Almost 3 weeks post op and need encouragement

This coming Tuesday I will be 3 weeks post op and am finally beginning to feel better. I had a complication one week post op and had to be readmitted, possible pancreatitis. That was rough. I had a pain in my right side, most likely scar tissue up until yesterday. That seems to be improving as well. I suppose my problem is that the thought of pureeing food makes me want to gag. I constantly feel full and don't really want to eat. I actually feel good when, on rare occasions, I feel hungry. All the protein supplements taste yucky. So I have been sticking to eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese and farina. I also haven't had a bowel movement since Tuesday, which is scareing me. This weekend I am missing having a cheeseburger, not that I'm hungry for it but just because. I'm afraid I'm becoming depressed. Has anyone else gone through this? I'm hoping that this improves when I can start eating regular foods. Also, I am not a water drinker normally so I am finding it hard to get all tha****er in. I don't like Crystal light, it was too sweet for me. I know I sound like I'm whining. I just want to feel normal again and I'm afraid that will never happen. Thanks for listening. Amy

Amy, You will be better soon! Soon you can eat real stuff! I felt the same as you and just eating the yucky stuff wasnt for me lol. I felt myself not eating cause I was hungry but not for soup or eggs cause that is what I lived on. I am 6 months post op now and to this day do not eat eggs cause that was all I ate. Soon you will be able to have a few more things. It will be better. Hang is there! You are doing great! The first couple months (for me) was very bad. I found myself often saying "What the hell did you do" but now I am happy and cant eat oranges, salad, little bits of other foods etc. It will be better soon and u will continue to get better BTW Have you tried flavored water or watering down your crystal light? Some of the flavored water is pretty good. I like orange flavor cause it tates yummy Buy them singly at first so you dont waste your money is a ceratin flavor isnt for you. Apple tastes good too but very sweet! Hugsssssssss, Dawn

Dawn, Thanks for the encouragement. I really need to hear that I will be able to eat normally soon. I am worried about getting all the necessary vitamins and other stuff in. All tha****er seems to fill me up and not make me hungry. It is nice to know that others have thought that same "what the hell did I do to myself" feelings. Everyone seems to be so positive and so that is how I thought I would feel, not how I feel right now. Thanks for responding so quickly, I really do appreciate it. Amy

Hello Amy, and Welcome to the New Jersey Board !! My name is Timmy Ray, I met my wife on the Obesity Help Singles board, we both have had the RNY surgery. Sandi (my wife) is 2 years out, and had her surgery open, and is down at or near goal (losing 150 pounds total) and I am 18 months out , my surgery is/was Laproscopic RNY surgery, and I have lost 210 pounds. We live in Jackson too ! : ) Amy, there is a great group of people that meet every month, down in Toms River at Community Hospital at 7pm, the first Friday each month. Recently, we expanded, and we have another night MID MONTH, the third thursday of each month. The meeting is still at 7pm, and its on the grounds of Kimball Medical Center. Its held off to the side in a building called the "Center for Healthy Living". This months meeting is on June 15th, Thursday, @ 7pm. I hope you will consider attending, there are a lot of people *****cently had the surgery, or have the surgery scheduled over the next month or two. Amy, the reason I like our support group, and our particular group specifically, is because its very laid back, relaxed, and we all learn from each other. Questions about what to do, what not to do, little hints and tricks, and most of all... SUPPORT for each other, is absolutely first rate. I would encourage you to come attend if you can? If you need a ride, I there are ladies from the group that would be thrilled to carpool with you.. we have quite a few people from locally here in Jackson, Brick, Toms River and surrounding area. I myself or my wife would be happy to give you a lift also if you would like : ). Dont be down. I started the process at 601, now I am at 380 or so, and it has been a life changing experience. The first six months are the most challenging, then it gets much easier and you adjust to everything , pretty soon it becomes old hat : ) Please.. if you need specific questions answered, dont be afraid to email any of us, if you would like to email me you can click on the email link, or I am at the email address: [email protected] or you can telephone also if you prefer, I am at 732-278-1940. I am the co moderator of the thursday night mid month group, its a new group but made up of the same cheerful fun folks that go to the meeting the first friday in Toms River. Please.. please? If you can attend one of these support group meetings that I am speaking of, I would really encourage you to do so. Its good to have family and friends that are supportive, but there is nothing like being with a group of people that have been there, and that have practical, knowledgable insights that can help you "wherever you are at" in the process. Anyhow... its very nice to meet you, I hope you will post here on the New Jersey board, and tell us a little bit about yourself, and again to feel free to ask specific questions. As for water, what I do... I take the "Clearly American" brand water sold at Walmart (its like 50 cents for a liter bottle) and I remove the carbonation (I either shake it up a liter at time in a gallon empty milk jug, or use the blender on low)... Then I take it and add a little bit of Grape Juice Concentrate.... and add to it. I use the White Grape flavor of the water to start with... when I am done I have a light purple or violet colored water, that I like... and I drink this stuff year round by the bottle full : ) (normally 3-4 a day). Each of us does something different.... getting water is a individual thing, and this trick is one I came up with on my own. Some people use the individual "tubes" of crystal light to flavor a small amount at a time, some people drink a lot of fruit juices, some buy bottled water or buy a filter for their home tap. Most people think that refridgerated water (like a empty gallon filled up at home and kept in your fridge) is best, especially if you use tap water.... if its cold the tap water here in Jackson is not half bad.. sometimes I drink it that way. As for VITAMINS... I chew 12-15 (normally 4 or 5 at a time) Childrens Chewable Vitamins each day. We (my wife and myself) purchase vitamins at Sams Club or Costco, any childrens vitamins that are comparable to Flintstones Brand Childrens vitamins is pretty good. Sometimes when we dont get to Sams Club or Costco then we break down and Buy Flintstones Childrens vitamins, but I think the generic brands simply taste better. I am male, 42 years old, and still really pretty big (380 pounds still) but by chewing that amount (12-15 a day) I have done well in the vitamin dept. Plus... I never got to have kids vitamins as a kid, and I like the taste : PPPP Hope that helps, and I hope you can join us sometime at a support meeting ! Nice to have met you Timmy Ray : )

Amy, I have been through the band surgery before, and had it removed. now i am back on the "band wagon" so to speak. I to am getting the depressed feeling, I hate pureeing everything so i am eating soup, pudding, ice pops, baby food fruit. You can have milk of magnesia ( i know i spelt wrong) for the bowel movements. that is very common through all this. if you dont like water, have some decaf tea. My dr. office even said to have hot chocolate. I too rather have that burger....sweet yummy burger...but baby, it will come soon. i promise you. i have to tell myself that as i am sitting here drinking broth!! the end results will be worth it!

Hey Amy - hang in there - it gets better. It was good meeting you at the Lakewood meeting of the OCWLS -- hope you will get a chance to come to this Friday's meeting of the OCWLS in Toms River at Community Medical Center, Aud A. Some of the same people you met will be there as well as a whole lot more. This group has been going for three years! As for the food -- try soups - I couldn't stand the thought of pureed foods either and stuck to all types of soups, particularly lentil and pea. Chunky soups work well too and you can probably get 2-3 meals out of a can at this point. I also usually mix cottage cheese and peach or strawberry yogurt together for a change up -- good texture. As for liquid, I love the new Tropicano Light Lemonade -- only 5 calories - and not too sweet - give it a try. Hope to see you Friday. Hugs, Nannette