Confession Time!

I started eating mushies 1 week early. I really tried to do 100% of what my Dr said but I just couldn't take another week of broth and juice. 2 weeks of liquids before surgery and then 3 more after? Come on. I see where some dr's have their patients start on mushies during the 1st week, so I figured starting on the 3rd week would be ok. I guess I made an executive decision.
While I don't feel like I made the wrong decision, I was conflicted during the first few days. I felt like I was doing something wrong by going against my Dr's post op diet. But I felt like it was the best decision for me. My job can be somewhat physical and I was becoming too weak.

That is my confession. Anyone else got something they want to let go of?

Tracy

I started my low carb (no more than 20g per day) diet on Monday, 3/7. Until today, I've been doing very well staying at/near 20grams, and I've not really been tempted to have any of the carbs I see others in my family eating.

This afternoon I made cupcakes for my son's birthday party on Saturday, as well as a huge amount of buttercream icing (9 cups of confectioner's sugar, 2 cups of white sugar, and 6 sticks of butter in the cupcake batter and icing!), and found myself licking the bowl. In the scheme of things it's not the worst thing, but I am upset with myself, especially because I have my pre-op visit in five days and need to be 5 pounds lighter than I am today.

I'm drinking lots of water in hopes of flushing some of the bad stuff out.

I started on my soft foods a few days early too. I still do just liquids for breakfast and most days for lunch as well. But I've got to "eat" for dinner. The swelling in my stomach seems to be going down a lot faster than a lot of people on the message boards. I still can't eat more than a couple tablespoons, but it's still nice to feel somewhat normal again. I'm being super careful to really chew, take tiny bites and not eat too quickly. Seems to work for me.

I think that I have this eating thing a bit easy as I am on day 3 post op and had my first puree today for tea. 
It went well.  cottage pie...
I think it did me good really as I was not really tolerate water very well(a bit painful) but the comsome that I had for lunch was lovely and went down a treat.  Again it depends on your hospital and your surgeon. but well done on 2 weeks

Tracy,
I ate some Wendy's chili at 2 weeks out(Wednesday).  I only ate a few tablespoons, and chewed the hell out of it.  It's still sitting in my refrigerator.  When I went for my follow up on Friday, the doc said I could start my soft stuff tomorrow  He said that at 3 weeks out I should be out of the woods of straining the staple lines.

I was soooo tired of just doing the shakes and water/crystal light.  I haven't touched any type of broth since my pre-op diet.  I can't stand the smell or taste of it right now.  I haven't had much of an appetite, and it may be because I really hate all the sweet shakes.  They don't make me gag or anything, just tired of drinking everything.  The doc said only to "eat" when I'm physically hungry, and that's what I've been doing.  Most days I just drink alot of crystal light or caffeine free iced tea with sweet-n-low. Maybe some cream of chicken cup of soup.  I'm hoping that once I move on to soft foods, my appetite will increase. 

Eydie

During this week (3rd week post op) I have felt more hungry than I expected, but I realized it was because I was not getting in my protein or water. I wasn't taking in any protein, other than what I ate in food, which wasn't much protein, and I was only drinking 1 - 2 cups of water a day.

I realized I was eating more than others who had surgery around the same time I had, but it was due to the lack of water and protein intake. I made it a point today to add protien powder to my crystal light drink but still am having a hard time drinking all my water. So far I have had 3 cups and it is almost 8 pm. But that is more water than I was drinking and I have eaten less. So far I had one of those pudding cups and about 1/3 cup of lentils. I ate the lentils too fast, which caused me to overeat and made me sick.

Now I am focusing on drinking at least 2 more cups of water before I even consider eating anything else. I doubt I will be able to eat anything after getting in my drink. I don't see how people are getting in 8 cups of water this early. Maybe I am still eating too much. I mean, I read where people who had surgery months before me are only able to eat 2 - 3 tablespoons of food at a time, but I can eat double that. So hard to get everything figured out! I guess that is one of the downfalls to having surgery in Mexico. You are really on your own once you get home.

Tracy

Tracy, a trick I used to get in my water for the day is to always have one of those 16.9 bottled waters in my hand.  I try to finish one at least every couple of hours.  By the time I go to bed, I've usually had 5 or so.  I love my water ice cold, so when I get about halfway through with one, I put it back in the fridge and grab a cold one.  Hope that helps!

Eydie

Eydie,
Thinks for the advice. I finally started packing a 1 liter bottle with me and I am getting more water in. It's still not as much as I should be getting but it is better than before. I can see a difference because my urine was getting pretty dark and was freaking me out. That's a good motivator for drinking more water!
Before surgery I used to fell thirsty all day long, now I have to force myself to drink liquids, even if I get thirsty.
How have you been doing? I think you are on mushies or soft foods now right?
I can handle foods such as mashed potatoes (though I don't eat often), pudding, and cream soups very well. But canned tuna with mayo or soft cooked beans aren't working to well for me yet. It really does make a big difference when you start eating more "solid" foods even if they are chewed to mush. I can easily eat one of those little pudding cups but if I try to eat the same amount of tuna salad I will be in pain and very sick at my stomach.

Tracy