not doing too well

Hey Jenny, you have been given lots of good advice but I just wanted to tell you to keep on trying! Don't get discouraged..at first I could only take little baby sips from a teaspoon..but keep pushing those fluids with protein ideally thats the most important..

 thanks, aspan.  i'm trying not to become discouraged.  i go to the surgeon and NUT today, and i hope i am checked out fine, with just some minor discomfort, instead of with some complication.  thats my fear!  it feels like i'm going just a little backward as far as pain goes.  i dont have a lot, but i definately felt better on monday and it went downhill.  glad i'm going today!

thanks again, aspan!

Many of us couldn't tolerate plain water immediately post op. Have you tried some warm herbal tea? Warm does better for some folks and ice cold for others. I wa kinda middle of the road and even now I can only do a small amout of plain water...has to be flavored with something. Tried Mio recently and thought it was pretty good,esp the berry pomegranite or something like that.

Hang in there...this too shall pass. :)
H

Hang in there Jenny!  You are doing very well so early out....I know it doesnt feel like it but you are doing good.   Cold water did NOT sit well with me in the mornings.......protein coffee still is my favrorite way to get protein in and if it is decaf, the fluids also count!  Sugar free popsickles are also great asbasically 2 oz for each (count as fluid).  Hang in there!

p.s. I had to take that mag citrate before surgery....that stuff tastes so gross...no wonder you felt queasy!!!!!

~~Jennifer

 thanks, jen!  i need to do a quick update about my NUT appointment.  i was displeased with what she had to say.  i was almost in tears, and so very discouraged after meeting with her!

it's nice to have allies here!

Ok, Jenny, you're right where you need to be. Keep up with the walking/sipping game, every 30 minutes or less around the house, taking sips as you pass through the kitchen (or wherever you have your ounce cup)

You've gotten great advice to listen to, and I recommend you heed it.  But I'm going to give you some advice that no one has given you yet..... ready?

Find something to watch, read, listen to whatever, that makes you LAUGH!  Laugh every day, several times a day.  Real belly laughs.  You'll probably find you feel better. 

Seriously.... let go of working at this so hard.  It'll come, but you need not be perfect immediately.  We're human beings, not human doings.

Laugh sweetie.
tracey

 thanks, tracey!  my favorite tv show was SCRUBS, and i've been going thru the seasons since the surgery.  if anyone can make me laugh, those guys can!  in fact, hubby, mark, and i always use tag lines and were doing it at the hospital.  it's good to laugh and i love laughing, even when i grab my belly and say "ouch" afterwards ;-)

thanks, for the great tip, honey!

The only soup I could handle was beef broth (yes, I know, very salty but when on all fluids or soft, every fluid helps). Soups, thin stews, and watery foods like watermelon count as fluids, too. Altho I would NOT sugges****ermelon at this point, it gives you an idea of what counts as a fluid. Ice, gelatin and SF Pops or Italian Ice also count as fluids.

First 30 days, focus on your fluids, then protein and aim for at least 30 grams, and walking.
Second 30 days, try for 60 grams of protein.
Third month, try for the 90-120 grams.

Your pouch is still very tiny AND swollen...let it heal but get the fluids before ANYTHING else.

Liz

 liz, thats a VERY good list!  i'm gonna write it out and post it where i can see it!

oh, and yesterday i had an accidental run-in with watermelon.  my nutritionist mentioned it the day before-- for a later point in my stages-- and i had a piece left over and sitting out from after my grandtwins had left.  well, my brain registered that the NUT had mentioned it, so i took a small bite at 7 pm.  i chewed really well, swallowed the juice and then freaked, because of what i KNEW was wrong! WOOPS!  about an hour later i took a pain pill, which makes me loopy.  an hour later, i was dizzy, nauseas, and pretty unhappy!  i think it was a combo of the loopiness from the meds, and that didnt make the nausea any better from the watermelon.   man, and i knew better, it was just a brain blip.

thanks again for the great tip/list of what to work on.  thats a better way to start out, in my opinion, than failing at everything like i feel my NUT thinks i am!

You should never lie to the nurses, especially when it comes to bowel movements. THis is very serious. IF yuo havent' gone in 10 days and you took the citrate of magnesium and it didn't work, you need to tell your surgeon tomorrow.  I was told that if I hadn't gone after 7 days to use MOM, if that didnt' work to use dulcolax suppositories the next day and if that didn't work to use a fleet enema and if that didn't work to call the surgeon ASAP.  Once 10 days goes by, you should have gone.  It is good that you feel gassy though.

It is imperitive that you get your fluids in.  You are most likely severely dehydrated.  We were given little 1 ounce medicine cups and told to drink 1 cup every 10 minutes for the first week and then the second week to drink 2 ounces every 15 minutes, week 3  - 3 ounces every 15 minutes, week 4 - 4 ounces every 20 minutes.  Week 6 - 6 ounces every 30 minutes.  This is essential to get your fluids in.  Using little cups helps you take tiny little sips at a time.  No gulping allowing.

For protein - you need to find a protein drink that you can tolerate - you aren't getting nearly enough protein in.  For fluids, go by the guidelines above but for foods, you aren't eating nearly often enough - you need to eat 1-2 ounces every 2 hours, if you can't tolerate 2 hours, no more than 3 hours.  You listed one meal as 3 ounces of soup with chicken puree and broth - that is alot for one sitting - and refried beans, salsa and soup?  How is that on a 2 week diet?

You say you aren't feeling well, you need to follow your plan.  Get in the fluids and stop the solid foods.

Here is a recipe for a delicious protein shake

8 ounces of milk
2 tablespoons of sugar free chocolate syrup (I use torani or davinci)
5 - 6 ice cubes
1 1/2 scoops of chocolate whey protein from GNC (100% whey protein - Pro Performance)
2 tablespoons of sugar free chocolate pudding powder
1 sliced banana

put it all in a blender for about 45 seconds until smooth. THis gives you a delicious protein shake with about 40 grams of proteins.  Tastes like a chocolate milkshake.  Drink a few ounces at a time.