SURGERY DATE AND ASKING FOR HELP

WELL I'M A WEEK AND A HALF AWAY FROM SURGERY. DATE IS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13th. I BET NOT TO MANY PEOPLE WILL BE HAVING SURGERY ON THAT DAY. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU ALL COULD GIVE ME ADVISE ON WHAT YOU ATE THE FIRST FOUR WEEKS OUT POST-OP, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAD SURGERY W/ DR. BYRNE AT MUSC. I'M GRATEFUL FOR ANY AND ALL IDEAS AND SUGESTIONS THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT DONNA, SFY (SOUTHERN FRIED YANKEE)

First off, Congrats on the surgery. You will be on the losing side soon! I did a lot of protein drinks, blended soups, and cheese gritz for those 30 days. If you want I will be more than happy to give you recipes. Dr. B group should have given you a booket on some recipes also. Good Luck Julie

You will eat sooooooooooooo little that it won't be that much of a problem, I promise ... But, my favvvvs were ... SF popcicles SF crystal light drink mix Protica Profect protein drink ... 2.7 ounces = 25 grams protein (check out the bottom of my profile page for the website or The Vitamin Shoppe has a similar product) Stallone Protein Pudding ... 20 grams of protein ... Chocolate is my favv (they also have vanilla & lemon from The Vitamin Shoppe) Creamed soups ... (my favvv was Cream of Shrimp with those teeny cooked shrimp in them) Actually, I had a very sensitive pouch so I stayed on liquids a lot longer than required. I couldn't tolerate ANY white carbs like thinned mashed potatos or grits ... Remember, it takes about 3 months for your surgery incisions to heal so the longer you stay on light foods, the easier it is on your pouch. Most want to get back to normal food like "right now" ... You have your whole life to eat "normal foods" ... Take it easy in the beginning & give your body & pouch the easiest recovery you can. God bless you ... Dawn & Nick

The best advice I can give you is to have someone set an alarm for your "feedings" and to keep track of all your water/protein/drain output on a spreadsheet on the computer. I printed it out and took it with me to my appointment and Dr. Byrne said he should make it mandatory for all his patients...easy to do. My hubby did it actually, and did it on Excel. You will be fine!!! you have the BEST surgeon around!! Get some Any Whey protien powder...you have to order it online, and I put it in all my grits, ricotta cheese, oatmeal, cream of wheat, and it kept my protein up! I also drank lots of propel as real water hurts!! Take your own pillow to the hospital with you, and some pj pants...you won't want to change your shirt with the IV in, and that way you can just throw on your pants and walk, walk, walk! CONGRATS!! It is a milestone to just walk! Oh, take lots of pre op pics, you will want them down the road and also take pics in the hospital under the Byrne Blvd. sign! Tell Dr. Byrne hello for me!! I miss him and everyone back in SC! Deb

DEB, THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT ADVISE. TELL ME, DID YOU HAPPEN TO BE AT DR. BYRNE'S OFFICE ON JULY 6th OF THIS YEAR? EVERYTIME I LOOK AT YOUR PICTURE YOU REMIND ME OF A GIRL I WAS SPEAKING W/ THAT DAY. I HAD MY INITIAL CONSULT ON THAT DAY. I'LL DEFINATELY SAY HEY TO DR. BYRNE FOR YOU WHEN I SEE HIM ON THE 13th. DONNA, SFY