I AM BACK!

Hello ladies! Sorry that it has taken me so long to get back in action. My recovery was a bit more complicated than I thought that it was going to be. Had surgery on April 28th and was out by May 1st, that late afternoon. Everything seemed to be going fine, till the barium swallow. OH MY GOODNESS, the stuff they made me swallow, brought tears to my eyes, not to metion the volume that they made me drink. IT WAS JUST AWFUL!!!!! Well sortly after that the vomiting started and boy did it start! For the next 12 hours I was throwing up atleast 3-4 times an hour. Where that stuff came from, I don't know. I was regretting what I had done, big time. It was coming out my nose and my mouth, there were even times that I just vomitted all over myself. So they kept me longer. Then the next day they gave me grits!!! I was like what? The grits were as hard as a brick bat, I tried to water them down with some of the milk that they gave me. I ate maybe 3 very small bites and boy did I pay for that! I was a hurting fool! Once again, crying and wondering why did I do this why!!!! Dr. Brynes told me that he felt like the grits may have sat there and was taking too long to get out my stomach. Well, I do know that grits swell, so maybe they started to swell in my tummy. Several hours later....came relief. They must have passed. THANK GOODNESS. So they let me leave, but only on liquids....NO puree foods at all. NOW that was hard on me. Only liquids.....got tired of the Jello and broth real quick, BUT I stuck it out. Now I am on the puree diet and it is going great! Hard to find what to eat.....I am trying to be creative. Things are moving right along.....EXCEPT I have lost 26 lbs. so far and have been at a stand still for several days now......now that is VERY DISCOURAGING Can anyone shead some light on that? Thanks, Chell

I am glad to see that you are back. Sorry to hear you had such a tough beginning but it sounds like you are doing much better. Do not worry about the stalls, that is normal, just keep doing what you are doing. You have put your body through a major change. The stalls are your body's way of playing catch up. The weight will start coming off again. But do not weigh yourself everyday. You will get more discourage. Pick a day and weigh only on that one and in the morning right after you have used the bathroom. NOW.... CONGRATS ON THE 26 lbs. WooHoo gone forever Hugs Julie

Chell, Sorry to hear you had such a rough time Don't worry about the stalls, seriously. I think we all worry about that and it happens to everyone at one time or another. Take it from a chronic worrywart, all of a sudden one day you will be one weight and the next day, poof, you will have lost a bunch. It's like magic LOL. Take care, Lisa

WOW Chell, 26 lbs. in less than 1 month is WONDERFUL. Glad to hear things are getting better for you. Hang in there and the losing will come!!! Susann

Chell, welcome back, girl! I felt so sorry for you when Eric told me all that you were going through. It is great news that you are improving and 26 pounds is awesome! Everyone is right to expect the stalls- I had them, too, and still have them. I even went up a few pounds! But I was at the doc's yesterday and found it is because 1- I have not been getting in all of my protein and calories to keep my metabolism going, 2- I have not been getting in my fluids, 3- I took myself off of my water-pill and I am seriously retaining fluid, 4- I have not been walking So, I am now off of bed rest, after my E.R. episode last Friday, and will be getting back on track today. How is work going? Is your energy level catching up yet? Take things slow and easy and like Julie said, the weight will start falling off agin. Hugs! Christine

First of all, I am glad that you are alright......you had me scared there for awhile. Things are going good, so far. I am down now 27 lbs! I was like at a stand still for 3 days. I am a weigh in freak. I get up every morning, use the restroom then I am off to the scale. You made the me think though......I am not sure if I am getting all my protein in. I am eatting like tuna fish and chicken salade and I put nonfat dry milk in all my soups, for the added protein. I am soooooo scared to over do it, ya know. Like today i brought some pureed garlic shells for lunch, but I am eatting fat free cottage cheese for breakfast, that has lots of protein in it. It is hard to eat all that protein, I think. I really don't count my protein, like I should I guess. As far as fluids, I think I am doing pretty good. I am always sipping on something. BUT let me tell you the entire sugar free taste is REALLY getting to me. The after taste is just awful. I wish that there were something else to drink, beside that sugar free stuff. I do like my water.....as long as it is ice cold. I bought some smoothies the low carb. low sugare strawberry creme....sounded wonderful, but the after taste just grosses me out. Can't handle it. I haven't started walking. I really don't want to over do it. Just working for 8.5 hours a day, drains me. I get home eat a little something and then end up falling asleep. I am an Endooscopy Nurse and I am on my feet all day long. I am pooped when I get home, BUT I know I must find a way to do some walking. I am thinking of joining the Goose Creek Recreation Center. It is only 25$ a year, so I may join. They have A/C and a track and gym equipment, it is really nice! Well let me go, I have to get back to work. Take it easy! Chell

Hey, as for the sugar-free taste... I found that the drink additives (those individual powders to pour into your water) were a little strong for me, so I actually add a little more water than they say to add. If it is a little more watered-down, maybe the after taste won't be as harsh. Try different brands, too, because some of them seem more bitter than the others. The lemonade is a little strong for me, so I add a half teaspoon of Splenda. If it is one brand of sugar substitute that you are trying (like Equal or Sweet and Low), try using a different brand. I can tolerate Splenda but the Sweet and Low is just awful on my taste buds. If you don't want to spend the money on these without trying them first, go into a coffee shop and take a couple of packets of each brand to test out at home. (you might want to get a small coffee or tea though instead of just walking in and sneaking their supply of sugar substitute- hahaha!) Good luck, girl! Love, Christine

Chell, I'm glad to hear you're doing better. You're doing everything right, be patient, those lbs WILL come off. See, you lost another lb between post I bet that's never happened before? WoooooooHooooooo!!! 27 lbs!!! WOW!! Double WOW!!! I've updated your info on the Weight List OK Tonya