Soo.. how do you deal with...

I'm glad to hear you're doing well! Yeah that damn drain hurt me the most, too. I kept asking Dr. Campos when I could have it out. I think I annoyed him a little. haha You will feel SO much better when they pull it out.

They did an epidural on you? I didn't get one of those. I wonder why. Do you have an IV? 

Ugh yeah it's the worst, did it hurt when they took it out? I am freaked because it looks HUGE, also isn't it weird to have an open wound like that, has yours heeled quick?

Yeah an epidural, I guess when the anesthesiologist came in he felt my back and said I had a strong one so he would do it for me, though I think it's more of a pain in the ass because I can feel it and its another tube that will need to be removed.

I will feel like some character in a sci fi movie when they take all my **** out, lol.

It did hurt a little when they took out the drain, but I couldn't tell if it was from the drain being pulled out or the nurse having me take a REALLY DEEP BREATH and then exhaling as she pulled it out. It hurt to breathe really deeply at that point. It felt really weird, though. I could feel it coming out, like a big worm, haha.

I wonder if you had a different anesthesiologist. Mine didn't feel my back at all. Just told me he was going to use a ****tail plus propofol and put in an IV. Are they still using it as a port for stuff? Can you walk? 

Yukyukyuk, can't wait to get it out though, did they have you use this breathing machine thing with 3 balls? Maybe I should practice more.

He told me about the ****tail so I was still knocked out, this port was more for pain after it's taped up my back and there is a syringe kinda strapped to my chest so I can walk freely.

Yep! I have the respirator thingy, and I still use it every day, though I forget to do it 10x a day. Though I think I can stop it after tomorrow... It really does help. You should get your drain out tomorrow!  Practice the breathing thingy! :) And DON'T WATCH HER PULL IT OUT if you get queasy! I promise you that you will be happier not seeing it! lol

Oh yeah! Forgot to add: yes, my drain incision is healed! :) You keep it covered for a week or so.

Abby

Abby, 

I share in the experience of wanting to say goodbye to those shakes.  Like, I will not drink another drop of that stuff!  And I didn't.

I had to switch to protein supplementation (unflavored) for a while.  I was sick of the sweet stuff and needed to move to savory.  That worked well for me.  

I think you're too early out to say goodbye to them altogether just yet.  It may be that you need to just find another one to try for a while.  Have you ordered samples from vitalady?  Maybe there's something totally different that you can stomach (literally) for a few more weeks?

Good luck! You're a rock star post-op newbie!

Rosa,

Don't worry, I know I still need a protein supplement! :) I ordered some unflavored, which should hopefully arrive tomorrow. I will see how I stomach it, and if it goes well, I will order more and add it to everything I eat/drink to get all my protein in. I will keep my current mix, too, as I can handle it in small doses. I just need a BREAK from chocolate! (OMG, who AM I? lol) 

I will try some other flavors, too. The brand I have now makes a vanilla cake batter. I am thinking of ordering some of that to see how that goes, too. Maybe vanilla won't be as repulsive if I can switch it out with chocolate. I had a sample of both before surgery, and I liked the chocolate better, though both were good, so I just got chocolate. I had no idea what I would like or not after surgery, so I didn't want to spend a crapload of money on things I wouldn't use.

And heck, maybe they will taste better with milk rather than water! 

Thanks! :)

Abby

When we moved to creamed soups, we could have any low fat but tomato.  Too acid and too much sugar my Nut said.  I did fine with all but the brocalli.  It gave me gas but the Nut said it was probably too much fat, not the actual brocalli which may be since I eat brocalli now all the time and it never bothers me.  Or it was just too early. 
I haven't had any real problems with any food, other than that cream of brocalli early out.  I've never been nausous from any food.  My only suggestion is to take it slow and only try one new thing at a time so you can identify what it is that is bothering you if anything does. 
My only other issue was eating a piece of steak too fast and not chewing well enough.  Will never do that again.

Thanks, Price! :) 

Abby