How you doing June 4th Folks??

Hey Kath, How did your apointment go? I really hope you are able to go on soft foods. 100 calories a day doesn't seem like enough. Hope you are doing well. Marli

My appointment was good, thanks for asking. I've lost 12 pounds since surgery...woo hoo! So, including the 2 week pre-op diet, I'm down 22 pounds. That's encouraging! I get to have a little food now...yay. For 1 week, it'll be protein drink for breakfast and lunch, then a small soft protein meal. Next week I can add in a bit of chicken and have 2 meals and a protein drink for breakfast. Hopefully I'll start getting a bit of energy now! I sure hope things are getting better for those of you that had such a rough start...hang in there!

Today was my best day so far...I left the house and did some walking, but not too much because I ended up kind of short of breath. My pain is managable with the liquid vicadin, and I generally only take 2 doses/day. My biggest thing right now is hunger. I left the hospital thurs. not able to finish a protein shake, but when I woke up on friday I was really hungry. I feel like I have been hungry ever since. My dr. has us on a liquid diet for 4 weeks, and I am really not looking forward to that. I also showered today, and my drain incision has been sore ever since. The shower also totally wiped me out...I had to lay down afterwards and it took almost an hour to get the energy to get dressed. But overall I am surprised at how good I feel. - Melinda

Hey Melinda, Glad to hear your days are getting better. Woo Hoo! Feeling hunger would suck. I think that is why Dr. Kim starts us on soft foods right away. Liquids empty out of the pouch so much faster. I can't imagine having to be on luquid for 4 weeks. I am amazed at the different approach each Dr. takes. Was your shower hot? I have heard that a hot shower can really drain you. I take luke warm showers. And my husband gets in with me and washed my hair and legs and back - so my showers don't really take a lot out of me. Hope you are doing even better today! Marli

Oh, I didn't mean to make you feel wussy. Trust me, I'm still taking a few doses of my pain meds each day and bending over to grab things is not happening yet. I know exactly what you mean about the dry heaving....that was THE worst pain I had the whole time in the hospital. I felt the pain at my incision, in my muscles, and on my very insides. It was agony and the whole time I was petrified it was going to cause a tear/leak in my new pouch. I still get the nausea.....just now I know that when I feel the nausea if I don't do something quick the heaves will start. I hope this doesn't last too long because I'm not sure how many prescriptions of zofran I'll be able to get. Awesome that you're up walking so much. I went to the mall today. Walked in there and found a great new reason to get a pedicure (as if we need any more reasons! lol)...the massage chairs that tap and percuss on your back and you can make them roll up and down....well, I made it work on my lungs and over my belly from the back. Like burping myself (to move the intrabdominal gas out) and also to prevent pulmonary complications from not moving around as much as I normally do!

LOL Girl! No worries, you didn't make me feel like a wussy - I have always know I was a wussy when it comes to pain. I embrace my inner wussy!!! I really hope the nausea leaves you soon. That just sucks. Now I have to go get a peducure!!!