That's what I get for opening my big mouth.

So earlier in the week I was commenting to my MIL that "wow, I'm really surprised at how well this is all going, I'm not having any problems at all!"  I was able to get 4 oz of protein down at a time, and was drinking about 16 oz a day in my first week.  60 oz of water a day, minimum, and it's actually easier for me to drin****d.  

Of course, the next day, my words bit me in the butt.  I was having increasing pain in my left side all day long, and I thought it was just the incision.  We took the kids to the Science Center in the afternoon and had a great time, but I needed to take more Tylenol even though I had just taken some a few hours earlier.  When we got home I went to sit down and it was like something twisted in my left side, and it was agony.  Nearly sent me into tears.  By that time I had been off the Lortab for three days, but it was enough to make me take the Lortab again, and it still didn't touch the pain. 

The next day I woke up mostly better, but within 20 minutes the pain was back with a vengance.  I called Dr. G's office and spoke with his nurse.  She said that I had likely pulled the stitch in my left side, but to come in just in case.  Unfortunately they weren't seeing patients on Thursday, so I had to go in first thing yesterday morning.  I spent all day Thursday just sitting on the back porch reading, the only time I wasn't in pain was if I was completely still.  

Went in yesterday and Doc G felt around the incision site, and it didn't hurt a bit.  When he moved down a few inches lower it hurt like hell.  So it definitely wasn't the stitch.  He said because of the location and the fact that it's where they pulled the colon out to work on it, it could be diverticulits or just an inflamed colon.  Either way, he sent me for a CT to take a better look.

The CT tech that got me started was a flaming idiot.  He brought out a 32 oz container of contrast liquid for me to drink and handed me a straw.  I handed the straw back and told him I couldn't use it and he stood there and argued with me.  I'm not sure what part of "I just had gastric bypass surgery, I'm not allowed to use straws because they allow too much to be swallowed at once and put air into my brand new thumb sized stomach pouch" he didn't understand, but he seriously expected me to drink the full 32 oz.  I told him I'd do my best, but I was only able to get down 16.  Not bad, considering I had to forgo the straw and it tasted awful.  

Finally got the CT done, then went home to wait for results.  One of the nurses called in the afternoon and said that the CT still wasn't clear if it was diverticulitis or just inflammation, but Doc wanted to treat it as diverticulits, so he was going to put me on antibiotics.  She called in a scrip for me and I picked it up last night.  Hardcore!   He's got me on Cipro 2x's a day for 7 days.  

Anyway, I finally earned a sticker last night and was able to have a bowel movement (you really wanted to know that, didn't you?) and holy cow, the relief was almost instantaneous.  My side still ached, but it was nothing like before.  This morning, I'm pretty much all better.  I'll still take the Cipro because it looks like it was diverticulits after all, with a good side of constipation, but I haven't had to take ANYTHING for pain today.  Not even a Tylenol, yay!

After all this, though, it's come to the point that I can't stand my protein drinks.  I can get them down OK, but I gag and choke the whole time.  I think it's just the fact that I'm so sick of them, I'm sick of all the sweet.  THREE MORE DAYS UNTIL EGGS, COTTAGE CHEESE, AND REFRIED BEANS.  Thankfully I'm still good on my water.  I drink either Crystal Light or water all day, and there's no ick factor.  

All in all, I'm down 22 lbs from my start weight. 

Sorry I haven't been around much.  Every time I got online my MIL was hovering over my shoulder.  Love the woman, but hate the hovering.  She left this morning though, so I should be on more.  

Thats sounds like some wicked bad pain! I have been lucky so far (knocking on wood) and things have gone well. I  too can't stomach the protein shakes YUKKKO! so I am always in search of alternatives to the shakes.

Im glad your feeling better (its amazing how a little poop can make your feel like well poop)

I just get a good unflavored protein that meets my requirements and put it in some broth or something like that that I like.  (I do try to get in one commercial "complete" shake once a day when I'm on liquids, but I can't handle the sweet sweet sweet.)  Egg white based protein has the most "non flavor" of all-the soy based still taste like soy, I like soy, but it you don't you won't be able to cover it up with soup to mask it.

Constipation sucks. 

I lived on Miralax for months after surgery. Even now, I still use it from time to time.
I have some unflavored unjury protein powder that I do not use. Let me know if you want to try it and I will make arrangements to get it to you.

Glad you are feeling better! Congrats on the weight loss!!!

jennifer

Nancy, does the unflavored UnJury have the milkiness to it?  I just ordered two containers of the chicken flavored in the hopes that it's the same stuff that was used at the hospital.  That was pretty good. 

I only used it a couple of times and added it to chili and peanut butter and did not notice any milkiness. You are welcome to try it as I don't use it and it is just sitting in my cabinet.  Better that way than to buy it and not be able to stomach it -- no pun intended!
I will PM you my cell number. Call me if you want to try it and I can get it to you Tuesday evening.