ON THE LOSING (HEALTHY) SIDE!

WELCOME BACK! So glad to hear you sounding so chipper!!! I found that in the beginning it wasn't hard "being good" b/c I did not have an appetite at all! I don't think I really started feeling hunger again until about 4 months out! Enjoy it while its here or not here or... Oh you know what I mean!! Looking forward to your happy postings! Leisa

IT'S SOOOO GOOOOD TO BE BACK, MS LEISA & THANKS FOR THE WELCOME! YOU'RE RIGHT ... I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOOOOOOO APPETITE ... AS A MATTER OF FACT, I BOO-BOOed YESTERDAY ... WAS ALL FOCUSED ON OTHER THINGS & DIDN'T GET HARDLY ANYTHING INTO MY LITTLE POUCH ... BY TODAY, I BARELY PIDDLED AT ALL TODAY, SO I'M WORKING UP A SPREADSHEET OF ALL THE THINGS I HAVE TO DRINK, EAT & TAKE (MEDS & SUPPLEMENTS) SO I CAN TRACK THEM DAILY UNTIL I'M ON A RELIABLE SCHEDULE. I THINK I COULD GO THE WHOLE DAY & NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING ... POOR NICK WAS SOOOOOO UPSET LAST NIGHT WHEN HE FOUND OUT I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH FLUID/PROTEIN INTAKE ... HE WAS RIGHT; IT WAS DANGEROUS ... HE TOLD ME HE DIDN'T WANT TO COME HOME & FIND I HAD PASSED OUT & HIT MY HEAD ON SOMETHING ... HE WAS SCARED HE'D LOSE ME IF I DIDN'T DO BETTER. SO, THIS MORNING ... THE SPREAD SHEETS, & I HAD A PROTEIN SOURCE & FLUIDS BY MY HAND ALL DAY LONG. I CAN'T COME CLOSE TO WHAT THE GOALS FOR A DAY ARE. WHEN ONE OF THE RESIDENT DOCTORS CAME IN TO CHECK ON ME, SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS THE ONE THAT SCOPED ME TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WERE NO LEAKS INSIDE MY POUCH WHILE THEY CHECKED THE OUTSIDE OF MY POUCH BY CAMERA. SHE SAID THAT DR B HAD MADE MY POUCH SO SMALL THAT SHE COULD BARELY GET THE SCOPE TO TURN AROUND INSIDE IT. SOOOOOOO, I HAVE AN EXTRA TINY POUCH & I KNOW IT WHEN I'M TRYING TO GET MY INTAKE. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE EASIEST THING TO GET DOWN IS A SF POPCICLE. &, THE COOLEST THING IS THAT I HAVE THE TINIEST INCISIONS ... ITTY BITTY LITTLE THINGS ... 6 OF THEM WITH 2 NEAR MY BELLY BUTTON ... 1 RIGHT ON TOP OF IT & 1 ACTUALLY GOING INSIDE IT ... MAYBE 2 STITCHES IN EACH ... SO, SCARING IS GOING TO BE MINIMAL. SOMEONE (DR B) DID A SUPERB JOB ON ME! GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK

On the appetite thing... it will get a little easier each week. Keep in mind that you are also swollen inside from the surgery. As the swelling goes down intake will be easier. Your charting idea sounds great! The other thing that I had to do was actually schedule feedings like medication. I even set and alarm clock so I wouldn't forget. Hugs, Leisa

NICK MENTIONED THAT BUT I THOUGHT I'D HAVE AN ALARM GOING ALL DAY LONG ... MAYBE I'M WRONG ... HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT, MS LEISA. IT JUST TAKES ME SOOOOOOOOOO LONG TO EAT ANYTHING. TODAY IS ACTUALLY BETTER THAN YESTERDAY ... I NEVER THOUGHT I'D HAVE THE PROBLEM OF EATING TOOOOO LITTLE!!!!!!! NOW, THIS IS JUST TOO FUNNY! GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK

Welcome Back Glad to hear you are doing good! God Bless you! Carla

WELL, THANK YOU MS CARLA ... COULDN'T BE DOING BETTER IF I WERE TWINS! YOUR DATE ISN'T TOO FAR OFF, GIRL! ARE YOU EXCITED?!!!!!!!!! I ENJOYED YOUR "I WANT TO" LIST ... MY SHORTENED VERSION IS THAT I WANT TO LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE WITHOUT DAILY PAIN THAT LIMITS WHAT I CAN DO! GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK

Hi.. dawn. Do you love ALL CAPS FOR SOME REASON?

WELL, 1st OFF ... I'M OLDER & MY EYES LIKE TO REMIND ME OF THAT FACT. I WORK OFF A SMALL-SCREENED LAPTOP & CAPS ARE EASIER FOR ME TO SEE. ALSO, AT ANY TIME, I HAVE ABOUT 75-100 E-MAILS WAITING FOR ME TO ANSWER + POSTS TO 3 BOARDS SO I CAN TYPE FASTER. I KNOW IT IS POOR ONLINE MANNERS TO USE CAPS & I APOLOGIZED, BUT JUST THINK OF IT AS MATCHING MY PERSONALITY ... JUST HAVE A "BIGGGGGGGGG" ZEST FOR LIFE SO I USE "BIG" LETTERS. GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK

i knew there had to be some reason. I find it hard to read sometimes, it all blurrs together, but you go girl!

YEAAAA ... SOMETHING YOU YUNGUNS HAVE TO PUT UP WITH STUFF FROM US "OLDIE BUT GOODIES" ... GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK