I had my J-tube placed during my revision to lengthen my common channel, so like others so far, I was already under anesthesia for another procedure. I agree that the worst part were the anchor stitches pulling and stinging. The first time they broke loose, I had to go back in and get re-stitched in the office which was fairly easy. I also had them break loose prior to being given permission to pull it myself.

I pu****er and protein shakes in it. I gravity fed as well as used a infusion pump overnight. It takes a bit to build up tolerance to the amount because the nutrition goes directly into the small intestine. Oh and the other difficult part was my closure would seal so tight it was a devil to pop open sometimes. It very important to flush, flush, flush to keep the line from stopping up.

I believe that J-tube placement is an outpatient procedure.

B-double protein shake
B2- bacon and nuked egg/cheese cup
S-cheddar cheese and summer sausage
L-healthy choice frozen meal - they had these on sale for 5/$11 and with the holidays I got lazy. They turn out to be about 18g protein and about 30 carbs...so we'll see how my body likes these processed stuff. I haven't eaten a frozen meal in 2 years lol.
S- peach carbsmart yogurt
S-more cheese n sausage
D-haven't quite been hungry...maybe eat a slice of the family's leftover pizza. I am actually craving a bowl of corn chex and milk....

All vites and good fluids.

Good for you for coming here and getting support. I do have to say that the whole "going on a shake diet and eating one meal a day" sounds like a bad idea.
The shakes, good. The meal, good. But why not approach it with eating as much as your body needs in normal portions of good food till you are full?
I got the DS to not diet. I would suggest dumping the junk and starting your day off with a nice protein shake, then a breakfast, then a snack, then a lunch, then another snack, then another shake, then dinner and perhaps even another snack.
But all good proteins/fats with some veg?

It's good to hear from you girl and so far, your post-op experience sounds excellent! I know it probably doesn't feel like it, but from the sounds of it...you are in the top 10% of great recoveries because I have heard of some nightmares.

Right now, it just is what it is. RECOVERY. It is going to just be uncomfortable and you are managing very well.

I have read it works best with whey and egg white based ones.

I make protein cakes, not shake cakes..but still, I nuke em and it turns out great. I just mix the protein with the liquids really well before adding the 3T mulitgrain mix (my recipes calls for it and I prefer the texture), because if I don't mix it up well, it's "clods" up and makes powder chunks.

You like Greek yogurt Gail? I keep that and oscar myer bacon in my fridge at work for snacking. I also keep baby bels, lunch meat, that sorta thing there. I always have canned tuna and mayo in the frdige.

B-protein coffee
B2- 5 slices bacon
S-walnuts
S-greek yogurt
L-all the meat sauce off sketti, salad, 3 bites garlic toast
S-walnuts (almost done with this bad from TJ's..time to move onto a new nut lol. Walgreens has the wassabi & soy almonds BOGOF, so about to break into those)
D-gonna be late one, thinking deviled eggs, they sound delish after reading the bites

Tomorrow they are catering holiday dinner at work, we'll see what I can eat. I have my "pantry" at work if I don't find much, probably make enough deviled eggs tonight for snacking tomorrow.

Vites in and could have done better on fluids. Work was out of my tea I make my splenda iced tea with. Time to stock my own.

Thanks for the input and yea Bearmom..it was just like that. I was semi-on the ER bed, dress halfway off and refused to move because it was the only position I could get it at that moment without feeling like I was going to die.

I talk to tons of cardiac patients, family members, setup echos, cardiolites, carotids, etc...I listen to a lot of symptoms, but I'll NEVER EVER hear dyspnea again without having complete and total compassion.

Thanks for the info, that helps.

The hip pain went away, I dunno when because I didn't notice it anymore by the time I got that bad. Probably a coincidence but didn't want them to not have all the info.

So Friday was like any other, felt fine. The only odd thing was I noticed before first break that I had a pain in my hip, then the other...so both hips like severe, almost to the point to where I wouldn't get up ..it caused a limp. I wondered if it was a vit def...etc...but felt mildly overall badly soon after and thought I was getting the flu my daughter just had.

By lunch, the shortness of breath had began and pain in my chest, mostly left side. I work day in and out scheduling for 60 cardiac physicians and diagnostics...I know better than waiting but with the way my life had been going, I don't have any time to burn at work, I am scared to lose my job at this point.

By 3rd break, I was only able to take very shallow breaths, lots of pain. I called my husband, it was a coin toss on calling him or 911, but I wore a dress to work and was afraid with my luck I would code and get stripped down at work. Obviously lacking O2 by this point.

After lots of diagnostics and the trip to the ER from hell, I was told it was pleurisy. Good news, not going to die, bad news I felt like it and no one the whole time seemed to take me seriously. I put admitted and let go yesterday by noon. It's been much better. I am assuming their diagnosis is correct after doing my own research because I couldn't lay back, or forward without it intensifying to the point of feeling like I was going to die. It was after lots of dilaudid and around 5 am that it started to ease where I took a regular breath and could lay back or walk myself to the bathroom without pain.

Any ideas about this and why did it come on so freaking fast? (I was worried it had something to do with that daggum picc line that was pulled 2 weeks ago, like an infection from that in the lining or something) I going to cross post this on facebook.

The first thing straight out of surgery and the only thing that agreed with me was takeout hot and sour soup from my local Chinese takeaway. (note: it wasn't truly hot..I'd not suggest spicy on a healing tummy)

I haven't found any place difficult to eat at except Italian and most of those have grilled options. My taste changed early out, but I am pretty much about the same now, except I love seafood more than I ever have. Like most have stated, you just learn what and how to order, and how to toss out bread and rice. One of my favorite things lately is Thai curries. I can eat a small amount of the rice with it now..but why bother when it's so good without the bland white stuff?

Examples of how I order now:

Micky D's- Mcdouble with thousand island, onion, lettuce, cheese...basically I make a 1 buck big mac and keep on the bottom bun. I might steal a few fries. Or chicken nuggets.
Taco Bell- tacos go down real good, nachos with double meat...I don't ever eat any white flour tortillas, they hurt me.
Wendy's- Chicken pecan salad, chili, spicy chicken no bun, burgers no bun, fries dipped in frosty as  treat.
Panera- LOVE the Thai chicken salad
Mexican- mixed fajitas, seafood dishes, tacos, tamales,chili relleno (my fav)
Chinese- something spicy and not breaded, toss the rice, hot n sour soup, buffet=little bites of all
Japanese- sushi minus almost all the rice
Steak joints- steak, seafood, salad
Seafood places- heaven, crab and shrimps
Pizza places- thin crust, lotsa meat and veg, wings

I finally looked up this Julian bread and it looks like it's pretty darn good stuff...what with the 12g protein a slice. How does it taste? Texture?
How do you keep it? Freeze and toast?

ETA..and is it worth that kinda money?