Help! I need advice!

I am having a hard time getting all my fluids and protein in. I think I am doing fine and then boom! I have not accomplished my goal. I have been having problems with break through seizures due to the change in medication. Phenytoin seems to not be as helpful as Dilantin itself. This is due to the different fillers and binders. Anyway, when I have a small seizure I end up sleeping most of the day. Therefore, my fluid levels are down. I have been excessively hungry. I have been craving hotdogs, salad, and cottage cheese. I thought after the surgery it was suppose to be easier. Do you think it is because I am not getting my protein in? I don't think it is head hunger, or maybe it is? It seems like all my husband has eaten since I got home is hotdogs. I don't know how to adapt to this. I thought I was doing really well. I ended up eating veg. soup even though I know that I am not suppose to have it yet. Wed. I will be 2 weeks post op. I need help! You would think since I am a nurse I would understand this, but apparently I am having big problems with it. I had a much easier time on my 2 weeks preop diet than now.  Broth makes me sick to my stomach. I have been drinking choc. shakes from WM. I can not tol. the premixed type.  Any suggestions? Elisa

Hey Elisa- Have you tried the sugar free instant carnation breakfast with the 1 cup skim or 1% milk mixed with the 1/3 cup of non-fat dry milk? That fills you up quick and does not taste bad at all. I don't know much about seizures or the medication. My mom had seizures when I was a little girl and that was scary to me and I remember her having to take Dilantin. I actually learned that some of the medications prescribed for mental illness are normally for seizure patients...such as Tegretol. Have you ever heard of that? I feel so bad when I hear of someone having seizures. I can't even imagine how tired it must make you. I am sorry. You are in my thoughts.  Cheryl

I am not in your situation yet so please if yoou think I am over stepping my boundries don't be afraid to tell me. I closed my eyes and tried to put myself in your place and asked what I would do. I know that we are having surgery to change ourselves and I know that we have to get used to people eating around us. With that being said it might take a little time for your brain t catch up with your tummy so ask family members to eat their hotdogs without letting you see for right now. You need protein also. Protein should help you get that full feeling. Fluids also help you feel full. So to answer the question about head hunger I think it might be both head hunger and hunger. I have found out even before surgery that a lot of times our brain is telling us that we are hungry when we are actually thirsty or need protein. In al actuality hnger pains are supposed to subside with in 15 mins. So, if your feeling hungry all the time maybe it's because you need fluids or protein. Like I said I haven't been trhu this yet and may not know beans about what you are going through but thought I would try to help. Also, about the seizures, since you're a nurse is it possible to get the meds and inject them until you are able to tolerate better?? (just a thought) Hope you get to feeling better real soon. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers Hugs

Elisa.... I can very well remember those days myself.  You are in uncharted territory and it can prove scary at times.   The BIG issue right now is getting your seizure disorder under control.  You NEED to contact the dr. that prescribed your medication and let them know about the WLS you just had (if they don't already know) plus the fact that you are having issues with breakthrough seizures.  That is the first thing to take care of. Secondly the surgery you just had was on your stomach and not on your "head".  You are going to have to deal with issues of head hunger, issues of the "need" to be eating something even if you are the farthest thing from hungry.  Old habits die hard. VERY HARD. Trade out those habits for newly created HEALTHY ones.  Start journaling how you feel when you find yourself wanting to mow through a hotdog or salad.  That might help you understand and you might see a pattern developing that could prove to be a trigger.  If you see that.  Remove the triggering device.   When I was newly (very newly) postop I did ask my DH to not eat some foods in front of me.  He was more than happy to oblige.  It didn't take me too long before I was able to deal with this issue and I could happily eat my dinner right along with him while he ate his food.   Another thing.  Alot of times we think we are hungry when in fact we are very dehydrated.  This is also true for folks who have NOT had WLS.  It is true for EVERYONE.  If you have to get a small glass or cup (make is something cute and special so it is totally YOURS) then do so.  Anything to make it more appealing to get those fluids in.   Fluids are vital for our bodies to function.  The fat we loose is metabolized by our livers and excreted in the form of sweat and waste product.  We not only stress the thunderation out of our livers but stymy our weight loss by restricting our fluid levels.  SO DRINK UP GIRLIE girl and be proud of what you have accomplished thus far!  You are doing an awesome job!!! Elizabeth------------->

Dear Elisa, Ditto to what everyone has said so far-what wonderful advice they have given you. I am behind Elizabeth 100% that the first order of action for you-is to get the seizures under control, so that you dont have to go through that and also sleep a lot during the day-because being able to get the fluids in is VITAL to your recovery-and IF you dont-and get dehydrated-you may end up back in the hospital-but I know you already knew that!! IF someone is around you-maybe they could be in charge of waking you so that you can drink...you MUST sip, sip and sip some more-then when you think if you take another sip, your gonna die-do it some more!!!

I, too, went through a rough couple of weeks right after surgery, "thinking" that I was hungry-and I did the liquid diet for 8 weeks prior to surgery. I wasnt really hungry-but it was very hard to convince myself that it was just head hunger-because it was such a strong feeling. I didnt have any specific cravings like you speak of-but I do remember feeling like I was starving-and not wanting to even cook for my family-so I didnt for 2-3 weeks-my hubby and daughter did ALL of the cooking and NO ONE ate anything in front of me. Once I got into my "groove" and got it all worked out within myself-I could sit down with them and just do a protein shake or something!!

I recommend a journal to ANYONE-Elizabeth was very correct-it is so very important to get to those "trigger points" and learn now how to deal with them etc-and do it without those foods that some of us would run to beforehand (speaking from my own experience, not insinuating you do that)....there are several trigger points-but keeping a journal WILL help you reflect back to a sitaution and see that the way you were feeling triggered something-whether it was an arguement with one of your children, your spouse-the kitchen faucet broke-you name it!

I hope this helps out some-not that I told you anything that they didnt already say-I just wanted you to know it is so normal the way that you are feeling and this too shall pass!! Just keep your chin up and keep on, keepin on!! You can do it!! Janet