My whine....

Hi friends, I'm going to use you all as a shoulder to whine on. I hope you don't mind...I am doing ok except for a few things. First, I am having real signs of anemia (fatigue, weakness, dizziness, restless legs at night) and I had blood work drawn last week to test every conceivable thing...I am still waiting on results. I developed thrush and a yeast infection a few weeks after surgery and went through 2 courses of diflucan and started on acidophilus to rid myself of this irritating predicament. I finally got rid of the thrush and yeast infection and then developed a Urinary Tract Infection (watch out me, here comes the thrush and yeast infection again). To top this off, I have not really been losing weight like a champ. Over the past three weeks I might have lost 5 pounds. I know, I know, it's 5 less, my body is adjusting, the infections, and possible anemia slow things down, but I just feel like I'm beat up and have nothing to show for it. Eating has been an exercise in fear. I've already thrown up twice, once with tunafish, and the other time with chicken. Not like I'm gobbling down Doritos or anything. So I'm scared to death to try anything new. Just don't want to feel $h---ty any more. Speaking of $h-t, I'm constipated, taking 2 colace a day, the citrucel my doc reccomended is a big gag me with a spoon event. There you have it. I'm feeling defeated and used up. There, I've spilled it out. Now if anyone can find me a better attitude (Tavia?), I sure could use it!!! xox Amy, the cranky PS: finally changed my profile name from Amy Cassotta to Amy C....

Amy, i am so sorry you are having such a tough time. I think what helped me early on was that i was a chicken to try to many new things for a long time. I stuck to the few things that i knew were ok with me. I also ate very very small portions, i used the top of a baby bottle as a plate and baby spoons. I think it took a couple of months before i actually added new things in. As far as the uti and yeast infections that sucks but our bodies are all different and yours is just having a hard time adjusting...well you know you dont need me to tell you that. My advice is just take your time, rest when you need to. I felt very tired, restless, weak etc early on also. One day you will wake up and bam you will have more energy then you know what to do with. Just remember that this is a roller coaster ride. You are going to go up and down many times before everything kind of stabelizes. Even then there are going to be bumps. This is a life long struggle. Its a mental as well as physical struggle. I still go through nights that i cant tolerate anything and days i can eat so much....Hang in there and you know the drill, if you really are not feeling right call your surgeon.....You also know my email i am here for ya! LisaMarie

Thanks LisaMarie, It is comforting to hear that other folks' early months post op were challenging too. I should probably get to a support group this week, because as much as my OH family is invaluable to me, there's something about being in a group of people that takes that isolated feeling away! I am just going to concentrate on water and tollerable protein. I should hear about my bloodwork today. Thanks for listening, supporting, and being there. Hugs to you, Amy

Oh boy Amy! I am sorry to hear about the infections...ick. I am glad you are better with that. You sound a lot like me with the eating and constipation, and anemia, which I've always had on and off. I'm still waiting on test results too. My husband keeps getting on me because I keep forgetting to tell the surgeon that her recommendations of Citrucel, nor Metamucil work. Benefiber gave me too much gas. For me, although I still have problems with the eating, the episodes have lessened. I have to watch out though because the last time I typed that I had one the next day-lol. I always have to make sure my meat is lubed really good,chew well and slow, etc. I think you've done well with your weight loss and have amazed me...a true inspiration. Don't give up my friend! Hugs, Kristine

Thank you sweetie. The Citrucel is a big gagfest for me. I need to find out if there's something in pill form that I can take instead. I eat more in pills these days than I do in food! If you find a suitable substitue for Citrucel or Metamucil, let me know! Hugs to you for your lovely input. xox Amy

The Citrucel that I was taking was in pill form. It was a generic Wal Mart pill, I think Methylcellulose is the generic name. I admit it wasn't surgeon approved since it was a pill but my surgeon is strict and I have no problems swallowing pills at all, as long as I do it at night. Now I saw some new stuff in Wal Mart that I did not give a close look at but it looked similar to Benefiber and was in a blue similar jar. Maybe I will pick some up Thursday night and let you know how it is! Kristine

Hey Kristine, Thanks for that info. I just gagged down my last cup ever of Citrucel fluid. That stuff is profoundly gross. I will look for methylcellulose in pill form....no more gagfests! xo

Amy , YOU WILL FEEL BETTER SOON !! Watch my magic wand>>>>>>>>>>>Abra- Cadabra- ala kazam .POOF! ....How do you feel ? Did you smile? Then you are on the right road!!! See ya on the losing side!..............Kitty

Hi Amy Sorry you are feeling like sh** I knwo what you are going through. I went through the same thing for 5 weeks. Fatigue, weekness, dizzyness etc. What I found out is I wasn't getting enough protein and liquids. I was also dehydrating. And in the 5 weeks, I olny lost 5 pounds. Try upping your protein and liquids. Stay away from anything that is dry or hard such as grilled chicken. Stick with soft things for a bit. I basically lived on ****tail Shrimp. I was losing like crazy on that. It has tons of protein. Let me know how you make out. Marie

Hi Marie, ****tail shrimp, huh? Maybe I'll try it! I've never been much of a shrimp lover before, but my tastes have changed so radically since surgery, you never know... Nice to hear that I'm not alone in this rebound struggle. Thank you for your input!! Amy