Newbie

I just had my surgery almost two weeks ago. I am getting really tired of the shakes and they make me feel like i don't wanna finish them when i open one up. I gotta though to get my protein for the day. I tried some yogurt and it went down well. Any other things you can think of that i can use instead of the shakes? Also, it says i can start using soup, any ideas on what kinds to have? 

Also, i feel kinda pained in the lower abdomen area, like the skin has had an abrasion, when it looks normal. it hurts to wear clothing there. Has anyone had this happen to them post op? Also, does anyone know when the gurgling in the stomach goes away?
Thanks for all your input,
Kaisa

Hi Kaisa!

Nice to 'meet' you! Welcome to the OH RI Forum! Our home-away-from-home. Congrats on getting your surgery so you can have a healthier life!

Which surgery did you have?

When I was two weeks post-op...everything still frickin' hurt! Especially when I sat down. Between the surgery and the Heparin shots, Yowzah! That's quite a shock to our skin (not to mention the rest of our body)! Sometimes I even experienced weird burning sensations. But it got better with time.

I'm almost seven months out and my tummy still gurgles. And I have to mention, the gas comin' out the other end isn't the most pleasant either. I just go with the flow (no pun intended).

PROTEIN...

I wasn't able to get my protein in unless I had my shakes. As tiring as it is, it's a necessary evil. There are many, many kinds out there. Just have to try, try, try until you find something you like. I, personally, like the Nectar (by Syntrax) shakes. I buy them through www.vitalady.com. Nectar also have one that's unflavored. You can purchase samples @ $1.99 each so you can taste them without buying the whole 'cow', so to speak.

I also bought Plain Fat Free Greek Yogurt to get my protein in once I was on the full liquids stage. I bought and still buy Fage and Chobani at Stop & Shop. My favorite things to mix in are 1 Splenda and 1 1/2 teaspoons of Apple Pie Spice (per 6 oz yogurt). I also mix in Davinci sugar free syrups (I have about 20 different flavors). I bought them on www.davincigourmet.com. They can also be purchased at Marshalls, TJ Maxx and AJ Wright.

There is also BeneProtein. It's a non-flavored protein you can add to food and beverages. It can be found at www.walgreens.com. They don't sell it in the store yet but if you go to the store pharmacy, they will order it for you and will call you when it comes in so you don't have to pay shipping and handling charges. It's not bad.

Soups...I had FF beef and chicken broth for the clear liquids stage, FF cream of broccoli and cheese (strained the broccoli),FF cream of celery, FF cream of chicken. Anything that said cream of and fat free. That was a happy time for me. Harumph! By the time I got sick of these, it was time to start the soft foods. I was grateful to begin chewing something again.

Tomorrow night is the Roger Williams support group. It starts at 6:00. You can get a lot of questions answered there. If you need directions to the Kay Auditorium, PM me.

I hope this has helped in some way.

Happy New Year!

Jules

 

It is definitely helpful, and i will def be at the meeting tonight. I am gonna attempt to drive myself, for teh first time since the surgery, as i have no other way to get there. I went once pre op at the very beginning, so i should be able to find it again. :) I had an RNYand yeah, everything still hurts, even sitting, so i hope i can make the duration of the meeting, or be able to stand or something. I am looking at the nectars right now, is it a scoop, and are they overly sweet or anything? I will also look for the flavorings. I starting using chobani when i went to see the nut months ago, and i still have it. I have started to use it, and so far i think it agreed w/me, though i think last night i experienced the dumps for the first time, but am not sure. My bowels are still messed up, and i am not sure how to fix them. I am taking colace, though i am not sure if that is really helping me or not. I seem to fluctuate between constipation and diarrhea. tisn't fun. :(  Also, where can i find the apple pie spice and sincle packets of splenda? or is it a specific amount, like a tsp? Also, are the "cream of" soups good? or was the consistency too much at first? And i can't wait to start the soft foods. I hope my body can handle them.  It feels like i am trying to get over the flu and failing, i can't wait until the pain adn the icky feelings go away. Or at least lessen. Well, tyvm for all the info and i hope to see you tonight!
Kaisa

My daughter turned me on to Chobanni yogurt with the fruit.  Its only 140 calories and I add craisens and some banana and sometime some chopped almonds and woo hoo I have a great super food breakfast.  I cannot do the sugar free stuff as I really get cramps and gas with anythign like that.  Sugar doesn't bother me at all except sometimes I get sleepy but that is because us gastric by pass people pass food so fast thru their pouches.  PLus we almost don't absorb some of the food we eat.  I am 2 1/2 years out and I cannot digest prime rib and at times chicken, especially chicken wings......I eat them and then 15 -20 minutes later I am in the bathroom bringing every thing up.  It just doesnt digest.  Anyways, the chobanni has 14 grams of protein...that I found really interesting.  I just love it...do you have any problems with meat or chicken?
Carol b

Hello Kaisa,
  Welcome to the site. 
  I was able to have cottage cheese less then a 1/2 of a cup  cream soups.  That was about it 2 weeks to 3 weeks into it.  I had a scramble egg around 3 to 4 weeks in.  that went over well.  Check with you Nut.  They can tell you more.  It depend on what kind of the surgery you had.  I had Gastric by-pass. I know I got sick of the shakes real fast too. The pain get better about  3 to 4 wks in .    As for the gurgling.  I am  8 months in and I still get that gurgling from time to time.  Sugar get me sick and if I over eat the least little bit my stomach give me a sign by gurgling and if I don't pay attention to it.   That gurgling will make me sick.  So I  use that as my sign to stop eating.  It works for me. In the begining is common for the gurgling sound like your doing well.  Welcome again
LIsa

Hi Kaisa,

First, congrats on your surgery. Lisa and Julie gave you great advice already about everything else so I'll just add I'm a little over a year out and my stomach still gurgles. You get used to it and rarely is it ever noticed by anyone.
Best of luck in your journey!!

Hey Darlin It is your surgery angel!!!!!!LOL
I just saw your post..LOL..DUHH.. Jules and Lisa gave great advice and like talked to you about I did the pureed beef stew and chicken soup that is really what got me by. I also had to do the carnation shakes as that was the only thing I could tolerate. I also did pured meatballs with a little homemade sauce as that doesn't have any sugar in it. you said you are going between solid and fluid BM's you might be sensitive to lactose I cannot have any type of yogurt or milk unless it is the lactate brand other wise my stomach gurgles and I get the runs. Yuck. I know what you mean about feelin icky all over that is how I was it is the pits but it is all worth it in the end. I am so glad that I am home the same time as you so we can talk. LOL We will help each other through the hard to look forward to the easy right.
Well I will talk (txt):) you later.
love ya--hugs
D

Hi I am 2 1/2 years out and my son in law is 5 years out and both of us still have gurgling.  I can hear him and he can hear mine......depends on what we eat.  It doesnt happen all of the time but it still gurgles now and then.....I guess it never goes away.

Carol B