Feeling very lost and overwhelmed

Well, I feel like I am in between a rock and a hard place.  I have been putting up with this stupid nausea for over a week now.  It hasn't been constant, but when it's not nausea, I just feel "blah".

I am not getting anywhere near enough food and liquids in me - so that would explain my "blah" feeling.  I've talked to the nurse today and went over my weekend with her.  She gave me a few pointers as to why I am feeling this way; eating too fast, not pureeing things.......

So my lost and overwhelmed feeling?  I don't know WHAT the hell to eat.....or how much....or how many times a day.........*sigh*

Now I did get a booklet from my surgeon.  And it lists the diff stages and what types of food to eat.  BUT that's it.  I need something structured I can follow right now - like a full meal plan - WHAT to eat for b'fast and how much etc......

Today for the first time the thought crossed my mind "I wish I hadn't done this".....

Hi I am sorry you are having a rough time.  I know I have not had surgery yet but I have been doing a lot of research, and I came across a site called  lapbandtalk.com that has several hundred protein shake recipes.  You may want to check it out.  I hope you are feeling better soon!

Vicki

Thanks, Vicki!!  I'll check that once my tummy lets me try shakes again.  Right now they make me wanna gag.   Ugh!!!  This too shall pass in time I suppose!!

Suzy

Suzy....

What you are feeling is NORMAL.
Many, many of us experience a degree of "buyer's remorse" particularly in the first month or so post-op.

This is due to the FACT that we CAN't eat the way we used to eat.
We can drink a decent glass of water - let alone anything else- without THINKING about HOW we are going to drink that glass of water.

Also, besides having issues not being able to take in the recommended protein &  the recommended ounces of fluids- the nausea- and the FOCUS on what to eat, when & how much seems altogether downright daunting & discouraging at times!

Do NOT despair.

THINGS will improve.

Of course, you may need to ASK more questions of your doctor- the nurse or PA.  Have you begun to develope a stricture? This can make eating a REAL chore. thankfully, I only had 1 stricture. Others have experienced multiple strictures that must be dealt with by having a scope with dilation. (EGD with dilation)

This proceedure resolved the difficulties that I had developed.
I couldn't take my medications... with tossing them up.
I had repeated episodes of.... Foamies & slimies....

Not easy to be around other people when you don't know if when you burp - you are going to project foam.

So - yes- I also began to wonder... WHY WHY did I do this?

But here I am 10 months out from my surgery... I'm 140 lbs down from my highest weight. I am wearing size 4-6 clothes...
EVEN my smallest jeans are size 4!!!
I had been wearing mostly 22/24- but had a few 26/28!

THE BEST PART is:

MY IMPROVED HEALTH!!!

* OFF of both of my blood pressure medications
  (Verapamil & lisinopril/htcz)

* Off of my arthritis medication (naproxen)

* Off of the CPAP machine!!!

*DID NOT  have to start taking anything for Diabetes.
   (my pre-admission testing... showed that I had developed diabetes)
     Thankfully, my extreme weight loss - has resulted in NORMAL        bloodwork. Diabetes is no longer an issue!!!

** I CAN DO THINGS THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO...
     IN

         YEARS!!!

- RECENTLY DID A 5K!  (walked most of it)- hey i'm over 50!
starting things out gradually... don't want to injure myself...

looking forward to doing a half-marathon in October! 13.1 miles!

I'm considering purchasing a KAYAK!
tried a few out a couple of weeks ago.

I am able to go up & down my basement stairs as many times a day as I wish... without gasping for air!

I can tie my shoelaces without feeling like I'm going to pass-out!

The list goes on & on....

So...while the first months can be difficult... the results are well worth the aggrevation and discomfort.  But, really - and I can't state this any clearer....

IF YOU FEEL SOMETHING IS REALLY WRONG!
GO to your doctor!  Do not tolerate pain!!!

in the meantime.... sip, sip, sip...
puree your food if you must....
take your medications...

and mark off the days on the calendar... while  you watch the numbers on the scale start to go down down down....

then the corners of your smile...

will turn up!

and no doubt you will be  happy that you had this done!

Hang in there!

Thank you so very very much.  I really started to feel like I was losing my mind. 

Looking at the BIG picture I was trying too much, too soon.  I figured since something was pureed I didn't have to chew and take my time.  I know that is not the case.  And I figured I didn't need to puree anymore.  I don't know what the hell I was thinking.   I just hope this nausea will cease long enough for me to START OVER fresh.  I can still do that, right?    I mean today - I was feeling "ok" nausea wise....then I took a dose of pills and BAM - came on with a vegeance.

Ok ...going back to square 1 (or 2 I guess) - puree all my food.  CHEW it.  1-2 min in between bites.  OK..I can do this.

And a big pat on the back on congratulations to you JEllen for the wonderful job you have done with your tool!!!!!!!  I hope I can be as successful when all is said and done!!  

Suzy

What are you eating? How much and How fast?

 I can tell you what and how I was eating,  At this point you should be eating everything pureed. 3 ounces at a meal, ( I was VERY strict with myself about the 3 oz I was determined to not stretch mt pouch)  and it should take you approximately 20 minutes to do so (3 times a day). You'll be getting most of your protein  from shakes in between your meals, at least 70 grams a day. ( I use worldwide pure protein, they are 35 grams of protein and 1 gram of sugar). You should be getting 64 oz of water.  So what ever your favorite meals are drop them in a blender and eat three ounces of them.  That first month I ate cream of wheat (1 oz) and vegetarian sausage (2 oz)  pureed for breakfast.  I used cheese soup and soy milk and whatever sounded good to blend stuff.  I couldn't stand baby food BLEECH. For my lunch and dinner  I always added a vegetable .  So like 2 ozs of one of my vegetarian favs and an ounce of a pureed veggie, cooked very soft and mushed, and yes I did add butter.

Now is the best time to start learning how you will eat. I tried my best to use early time as wisely as possible. Hopefully as you add more fluids and softer foods to your body your nausea will cease.  I would suggest make a meal plan for yourself something YOU will like to eat. Do a day or two a time. It's going to get better my friend, it really will.

Be Well

 

OK, now that clears it up for me bigtime Lil - thank you so much.  I love cream of wheat...but I just haven't thought about it.  Since it's PROTEIN PROTEIN PROTEIN!!!  But I need to think outside of the protein box I guess and get some damn nourishment in me!!  I've been going about this all wrong.

And yes, I will go back to puree.  According to my booklet I can advance onto to soft foods..but I don't think I am ready for that yet.  And that's ok!

Alright..tomorrow's a new day.  But I am a bit proud of myself.  I was out and about and I got myself a Pinto's and Cheese from Taco Bell.  Well, I pulled over and ate it and CHEWED...and I waited 2 minutes in between bites (watched the clock) and I did fine.  In about 5 minutes I can have something to drink.  Ugh.  That gets my tummy.  I LOVED the crystal light lemonade..now it's hurting my tummy.  What am I going to do?  Water hurts, too.  OH well.  I'll find something.

Thank you.

Suzy

Oh good I am so glad it helps. Word to the wise though.... DO NOT add powdered protien to your cream of wheat   O-M-G oh ya, I thought I was being So slick. I'll just make this even healthier I thought. I think is swelled up in my little pouchie I think that was the worst dump to date!! I thought I was going to have to call 911... LOL

Protein Protein Protein is the mantra, but in the small amounts we eat in the very beginning there is no way to get all of the protein we need at our meals, so I believe this is the time to learn the balanced diet we will be doing later.

As for the fluids, I have never been able to drink large amounts of water, it actually makes me gag. Keep looking for stuff, get one of everything until you find something you can tolerate.  Do you have a water filter at home? If your water is anything like mine it's not palitable from the tap. My favorite crystal light is the strawberry, I also like the sf sobe. If those don't work, try squeezing a lemon or an orange into a pitcher of iced water, or add melon balls, anything to get your fluids in. 

I looked up the pinto's and cheese the serving size they sell is about 4.5 oz (128grms) so it may hurt your tummy. For me beans seem to not be a very good choice  because they are high in carbs.  Although sometimes we get caught out and about and we have to find something and you did awesome taking your time eating and taking your time chewing. Many of us are speed eaters and it is a difficult habit to break.  You WILL get this my friend and that overwhelmed feeling will be a very distant memory.

oh yeah... early out it is almost impossible to balance the protein and the fluids.... so try a couple of different protein shakes and see what works for you.

I like Atkins (available just about anywhere) ready to drink... lots of flavors. but also like OH YEAH... banana and vanilla flavors.

It's all experimental at this point.

Once I was on soft foods... I would put a couple of tbsps of refried beans on a plate with a couple of tbsps of ricotta on top, finish off with a little tomato sauce and called it.... a fake lasagna! 

Also... egg drop soup... fluid & protein!

This morning I had an egg with a little cheese melted on it. Kinda like an omlet.. not fancy... just a quick soft set egg w cheese. First time in FOREVER since I've been able to eat an egg without having a problem.
Success is within your reach! 

Glad you are feeling a little better today!


Don't forget .... you are still just a short time out from surgery... so   don't neglect your sleep!!!





HEY quiet everybody!  Dontcha know SUZY needs her beauty sleep????

All recent post-ops NEED more sleep!  Most of us NEED more sleep than what we usually get on a regular basis.
So enjoy it while you can! 

LOL I just now caught that last line...hahahah.  Yeah I would like a bit more sleep.  Ahh, can't wait for the weekend!!!!