8 days, 1 pound, sleep med not working

It's only 8 days...I'm sure there's still swelling...but I've been up and down the same one pound for the last 5 days. Waiting for the "melt" to start. I know it's coming...I'm not consuming enough calories to maintain my weight so this has to be inflamation. And I know I probably shouldn't weigh....but I also know I'm not eating hardly anything so you get excited to see the weight start to come down. And I see so many posts of people that say they lost "12" pounds or so in the first 2 weeks before their post-op appointment. Maybe that won't be me.

Today I made Cream of Wheat for breakfast...well, twice, actually, because the first batch blew up in the microwave.

I made it at work fully intending on adding Unjury for extra protein...but when I unfolded the partially used packet of unjury I had at my desk I realized it was Strawberry Sorbet flavor...which maybe that would have been good, but the thought of it actually grosses me out. So...I only got 6grams of protein with breakfast. Nice to eat something that wasn't soup or a sweet drink though. Memo to Me: bring more unflavored PP to work!

I went searching to see if there is any relationship between my RNY and the fact that Ambien has suddenly stopped working the way it used to. I now wake up 3-4 hours after taking it and can't get back to sleep. Low and behold, I'm not the only one with this problem. I'm going to try taking 1/2 and then 1/2 again when I wake up. I have an appointment with my prescribing doctor in a few weeks. Maybe it's time to change?

As of this morning I've learned that my disgusting potassium liquid is more tolerable if mixed with power-aid...also if I don't breath while drinking it...so that's the new plan.

From reading through forums I've also learned that "sweating" is a side effect of discontinuing my cymbalta...THANK GOODNESS. I thought I was suddenly having hot flashes! I've also taken my temperature REPEATEDLY over the last week, wondering if I was running a fever. I've checked the temperature in the house more times than I care to admit. Stupid cymbalta! But at least this should go away at some point.

Speaking of Cymbalta...the tears are still flowing freely. Yesterday I got super frustrated at work and actually stepped into a bathroom stall to cry it out. Sometimes you just gotta let it all go, right?

Lastly, I had a "team lunch" yesterday at a Mexican restaurant...I could live on chips and salsa from a Mexican restaurant...so going there 7 days PO was PROBABLY not the best decsion, but I'm new at my job (super new...like 4 weeks) and didn't want to look like the girl that turns down invites to team events. Well...I survived, with nary a chip consumed! I did contemplate sticking my finger in the salsa to taste it...but...you know....decorum.

For lunch I asked for a bowl of the broth that they use to make Tortilla soup (my FAVORITE lapband-worthy restaurant food item!). The chef actully came out to see if I was serious...explaining that the soup comes with chicken, avocado, cheese and tortilla strips...I explained that I had recently had surgery and am not allowed to consume solid food...so he said no problem, and that he wouldn't even charge me for it.

It. Was. DELICIOUS. I did not bring protein powder with me to spike it...like I should have...so I consumed 40ish calories (if even that) of no protein, but it was nice to taste something outside of my rotation. Mmmm....so good. But I do look forward to the days....several weeks from now....when I can have the actual soup again. If you've never tried it, it's quite delicious and full of chicken! (FYI, you can request it without the tortillas)

Hang in there, and soon this will all be a distant dream...

In my opinion, the sooner you ditch things like Cream of Wheat, the more successful you will be down the road. It's hard, I understand that part, and I know your NUT probably suggested it... but the carb monster won't leave the building if you don't shut the doors now, and when you can eat more solid foods, they'll be hard to not consume.

The Vets here will agree that the most successful people keep their carbs at bay.

The best thing I ever tasted after surgery was the broth from hot and spicy soup from my favorite Chinese place... I swear I almost cried when I'd eat it!

If that broth you had at the restaurant was a meat based broth, you got some protein. Use your protein shakes for your protein counts now, and it'll all fall into place.

Yeah...I just purchased the cream of wheat last night. I think because I've been pretty much wheat free for a few weeks I had a pretty negative reaction to it today. I felt like crap the whole rest of the day and when I left work I realized it was gas. Since I'm consuming SO little, it had to be the cream of wheat causing the gas.

I think you are right about ditching it long term...there just feels like so few options for this liquid phase, but I have no need to hang onto this after feeling pretty crappy all day today. I'm no stranger to low carb...and know it always helped with my cravings pre-op. I didn't expect such a strong reaction since I am getting carbs in the soups I'm eating, so it was a little of a surprise.

I had it only one other time in the last month which was a partial (very partial, like maybe 4 bites) serving of it in the hospital last week. I already had gas just from the surgery...so I guess I didn't notice any negative impacts that day.

As for yesterday's soup, that particular restaurant did a tomato based soup...but my USUAL favorite does a chicken based broth with added tomato paste and spices. I've replicated it in the past for myself. Mmmm

I'm intrigued by your hot and spicy soup you mentioned. Have you ever tried to replicate the recipe?

Now I'm thinking of ways to make beef broth exciting. I have some...but I think it needs to be jazzed up.