Update and questions....

Its been a rough 9 days but Im doing a lot better now. Im still not able to stay up all day and I get very tired after about 5 hours but just a few days ago I was tired enough to sleep almost constantly so this is a great improvement. I went to my PCP the other day and I had my mom drive me. Im allowed to drive as long as Im not taking any pain meds but she insisted. Well she drops me off at 930 and then forgets me. My appointment was over by 1000 or 1030 and I waited until almost 2PM before I finally called a cab to drive me home. Once I get there she calls and starts screaming about she is oh so sorry. Heard that before talk to the phone while I go back to sleep. Seriously if my surgeon knew the extent of my "support group" he probably would have refused to do the surgery. My cousin called me on Tuesday I think. She said we had been talking on the phone other times but for the life of me I cant remember it. There are a lot of things about the surgury I dont remember. Thats probably something I would do different if I could. I would have had someone there with me every moment in the hospital to watch over me. Well I got too much clear liquid protein drinks. More than likely I have more than enough non clear liquids also. Chicken broth doesnt taste the same now either...yuck!!! Luckily the isopure is fine and the little protein drinks my cousin gave me are good although a little too sweet for me. I got the wrong B complex vitamin and tried to crush one of the whole pills. Dont try that!! It made me throw up. Bad taste... Found me some liquid B complex vitamins that will have to do until I can swallow the others whole. I went grocery shopping today. It was really the first time Ive been out of the house since surgery. I didnt really need anything but it was nice walking through all the aisles. I was walking like the pretty boy in prison must walk but I felt good just being out of the house. Non clear liquids phase is coming up in a few days. I will try to get in tomato juice, CIB/Soy Milk/Protein Powder, etc. How does that sound? Any suggestions? The puree stage starts soon after that. Im dying for something with texture. I bought some tomoto sauce just to buy something at the store, but Ill augment that with more things as I get comfortable with it. Any suggestions?

Hi. I don't really have any advice to give you regarding eating as I am still a pre-op but I just wanted to drop you a line to say that I'm sorry you have been having such a rough go of it for the past few days. Hopefully you will be able to focus on the end goal of what this process is all about and you will get thru this. I'm sorry you don't have better support from your mom. That had to suck big time that she forgot you at the doctor's office!!! Hang in there and know that we are here for you! Hope each day finds you getting stronger and feeling better. Hugs, Donna

hi rm, when i was doing the liquid stage i wasn't doing a clear liquid and non clear liquid. it was just anything i could suck up through a straw. but not use a straw. i did the cheese and broccolli soup strained and watered down.i did oodles of noodles soup without the noodles. i was craving a salty taste at the time. i watered down sf puddings. sf popscycles. they have the soda flavored in walmart. i did my pwderisopure with carb countdown milk made by hood. tomato juice to me had too much sugar in it to try so i was scared to ty that. also blue bunny makes a carb freedom drinkable yougurt. i could get that up a straw so i drank that. i still do it has 13 gms of protein and 140 calories. hope this helps. adrienne

Hello RM , I know you are having a tough time now, but hang in there it does get better. Tomatoe juice may not be a good choice Lots of sugar. I still am off maters after 11 months, they do not settle with me very good. Get you some Crystal Light drink mix, freeze it in a ice tray , and use it as a slushie . you will love it , there are several flavors to choose from. I ate tons of sugar free pop sicles . And sugar free jello , buy a childs spoon and use it , you must keep your bites small. Cottage Cheese was my life saver , I bought the small single serve Breakstone,,, I remember it took my all day to slowy nibble one gone. Talk to your nutritionst he or she should have some ideals for you. Remember they are here FOR YOU, use them. Take care hang in there you will start feeling better soon. Allison

Thanks guys. My surgeons office suggested gatorade for my electrolyte imbalance and its been a lifesaver. In just a few hours I went from too dizzy to stand or even sit up in bed to walking around the house and feeling a lot better. It has 14 grams of sugar per serving so I guess its all relative. Still I will take it easy with the tomato sauce. Well Ive lost 40.4 pounds in the past 19 days. Blood glucose is still out of control, probably due to my drinking gatroade more than anything but right now it is necessary. Today it is 214, highest since my surgery but has been running between 134 and 184 prior to today. Granted I have not done hardly ANYTHING to exert myself so it should come down next week when I start walking at the YMCA. Im starting to sleep more through the night now. I cant seem to get in more than a few hours of good sleep at a time but I feel like its just another thing my body has to get comfotable with and adjust to and Ill be alright. Woke up lying on my belly last night. It wasnt painful but it didnt feel good. Lots of weird dreams too.... I guess thats it for now. Take care.

RM~I don't have anything to add because you've received great advice from the others. I just want to say you are doing the right thing by reaching out to others here for help. We don't get to pick our family but we do get to pick our friends! Are you able to make support groups in your area? You don't have to do this alone. Take care and it will get better! Karen N.

There arent any nearby support groups that I am aware of. For the first 7 days after surgery I felt like I was falling into an abyss. Nothing was going right and I felt so sick and weak. Since then, with some good advice from one of my surgeons nurses, and some good advice here Im doing pretty good. Im improving everyday and I am feeling better everyday.