Oooooo Boy! What am I doing!

 I have been thinking about this for a couple of years.  So finally asked for the consult and met with the surgeon at the end of July.  It all seemed to progress with no problems!  They called me early September to set up the surgery date.  I felt scared so I scheduled it for 5 weeks out so that I could get some work done and submit proper notice to my boss.  So I have been doing all that and I had five weeks to stew!  So as I prepare for surgery on Thursday I wonder:

1.  What will I feel like after surgery.  Will I be able to sip the drink.  Will I be able to eat the jello or suck on the sugar free pops.
2.  Can I put protein in my broth?
2.  Will I feel nausea all the time at the smell of food or anything else.
3.  Will I be able to eat puree?  Will it just make me sick?
4.  Will it hurt to drink or eat?


I am not worried about the pain of the surgery or even the procedure itself.  I am more worried about those other things.  
Then there is my husband.  He is worried I am going to be miserable the rest of my life for only eating two bites of food at a setting.   I told him my life is not going to be like that!

Wow!  Thursday will be here in no time.  

Everyone's different, of course.  But I can tell you my experience.  I felt really really sick right after the surgery until about 4 weeks out.  I couldn't and didn't go back to wor****il then because I didn't have the energy.  My nausea went away after about 3 weeks.  I think I had more nausea than normal because they kept me in the hospital an extra day because of it (I was there 3 nights.) 

I bought the unjury chicken broth, which worked really really well when I was on clear liquids (for 2 days pre-surgery).  I drank it sometimes after surgery, too, and it's an easy way to get in protein for the sensitive tummy.  Too bad it has so much sodium; I can't tolerate it at all any more.

I was on to purees while still in the hospital.  I started eating white fish pretty much right out of the hospital.  Some things made me sick, others didn't.  And it wasn't always consistent.  I found that, generally, however, dairy products were my closest friends in the early days.  They made my pouch the happiest.  I was especially dependent on fage greek yogurt.  

It hurt me to eat, yes.  It especially hurt to drink anything that wasn't milk.  I learned to push through the pain, especially with water.  It would hurt for the first few sips, and then it just wouldn't.  Now it doesn't hurt at all (unless I over eat).  

The great news is that the questions you raise were once an issue, but aren't at all any more.  All of these inconveniences got much better over time, at least in my case, and I'm only 4 mos. out.  

Hope this helps.  Good luck with everything you're up to in preparation for Thursday!  And keep us posted.  

I have never been nausous.  Nothing taste good after surgery bu****er but it didn't hurt. The pops and jello were much too strong tasteing for me.  I was able to get the protein in after a few days.  Each day a home I was markedly better. I have never been nausous at the smell of food.  I thought pureed sounded really yucky but it is only a few weeks, depending on you Dr and if you start with good food, pureed is just fine.  I was so happy to have real food by then, I didn't care if it was pureed.  Your taste change and will continue to as time goes on so something you like now, you may not care for after but that can be a good thing.
We all have different journeys so we can only tell you about ours, not predict yours.  I'm 6 weeks out and had friends over for dinner last night.  I couldn't eat the salad yet or the bread (or wine) and only 1/2c of the fish chowder but I had a wonderful time and never felt deprived.

My husband is enjoying watching me get healthy.  I gotta admit that he kinda laughs about my levels of food intake.  We went out to dinner last night.  I ordered salmon.  When it arrived he said, "so honey, are you good for about half of that?"  I said a little better than half.  Turns out I couldn't even eat half.  It was too dense and I was full.  He teased me the whole way home about my eyes being bigger than my stomach.   Of course, he knew he has salmon, veggies, and couscous leftovers.

Life does change, but both of you will adjust.  I'm only a month out, but no regrets so far.

Kay

1.  What will I feel like after surgery.  Will I be able to sip the drink.  Will I be able to eat the jello or suck on the sugar free pops.
You will feel exhausted after surgery, all the anasthesia will have you groggy. Everyone I have talked to has felt this way. I was not able to drink anything at all for 24 hours, after the test to make sure I had no leaks. I was also not allowed any food but liquids post op, remained on liquids for 2 weeks. Every Doctor is different, so be prepared for anything.
2.  Can I put protein in my broth?
Some people have bought the unjury chicken, I personally have not tried it and have not been able to tolerate any type of protein supplement. Still searching. Thought unjury was the ticket, turns out I was wrong.
2.  Will I feel nausea all the time at the smell of food or anything else.
This depends on the person, I seem to dump on everything lately but have found the smell of certain things do in fact make my gag. Again everyone is different.
3.  Will I be able to eat puree?  Will it just make me sick?
Still depends on when you are on them and the person,
4.  Will it hurt to drink or eat?
At first it did and some days I still cant handle anything too cold, this has gotten better though. I have to have something HOT in the morning to wake up my belly, then I can eat. Have to wait until after 2 pm to drink anything cold.

Again this all depends on the person, all of our experiences are different and bodies handle things differently. One persons hell is anothers heaven. Try not to think about the can'ts think about the can. Afterward you can.........
It gets easier as you get further out too.
Good Luck!

These are all thoughtful questions, and unfortunately we are all different.  As for me, and I am 5.5 months out.  The first 6 wks were the hardest.
1. I was able to drink any type of fluid without probems.  I was able to eat sugar free popsickles, didn't try jello, but I'm sure I would have been able to.
2.  You can put protein in your broth, but I didn't.  Tried it only once in cream of wheat and couldn't stand it.  THE HARDEST thing for me was to find a protein drink I could tolterate.  After several, I found Chia Protein Tea Drink.  I now drink 2 every morning.
3.  I felt half nauseated all the time...but I think it was from drinking protein drinks that didn't agree with me.  No problem after starting the Chia Tea.
4.  On my puree diet we could eat ground meat, refired beans, eggs, chicken salad, soups, chili, anything you could mash up with a fork, so I was esentially on regular type food right out of the hosp. and I had very few problems.
5.  It never hurt to eat or drink anything...unless I eattoo much, the it hurts. 
6. Some foods get "stuck" and have to come up.  Never sure when or where this is going to happen...but not often.  I always assume I must not have chewed it enough.  Chicken did and still can be unpredictable.

Just be ready, not to know how you are going to respond, and try to meet your fluid/protein goals whatever it takes.  It gets easier.  And for me finding a protein drink made all the difference in the world.

Congrats on getting your surg date, and here's to a text book surg and speedy recovery.  Post-op let us know how you are doing and if problems come be SURE to post!!

Well, I'll be 2 years out tomorrow, so my memory may be a bit fuzzy.

I tolerated vanilla and chocolate protein from the get go.  I would make chocolate milk.  I didn't have any lactose intolerant issues (thank goodness) so it was pretty easy for me.

I was on soft foods right out of the hospital.  I ate a scrambled egg with cheese melted on it every morning, also ate SF pudding, jello, sf popsicles, refried beans w/cheese, chili... and at 3 weeks out I even at sashimi!  Chewed the hell out of it.. amazing how much fat is in those! 

1.  What will I feel like after surgery.  Will I be able to sip the drink.  Will I be able to eat the jello or suck on the sugar free pops.  See above
2.  Can I put protein in my broth? Yes, but make sure the broth us under 120-130 degrees before you add it.
2.  Will I feel nausea all the time at the smell of food or anything else.  I was not nauseated (that I remember)  There were times when I smelled food and I thought it smelled awful
3.  Will I be able to eat puree?  Will it just make me sick?  I skipped puree
4.  Will it hurt to drink or eat?  Just be sure to eat/drink S L O W L Y.  Listen to your pouch/tummy.  If it says stop STOP RIGHT NOW - not after the next bite.  AND - use a baby spoon to eat with - this, I believe saved me as I could only take very small bites with it. 

CHEW the food until there is nothing else to chew.  I truly think that's why I never got anything stuck or threw up.  NEVER

 Those are all great responses.  I think I am over thinking it!

 And thank you for the responses.  

Swinging lizards today!