My whine....

Morning Ms. AMY C (who says C is short for cranky today) Sweety we are here to listen to the good, the bad and the ugly... I can relate to the scared/fear of food. I think I ate tuna for weeks on end because for me it was safe, tastey and I knew it was full of protein (eating to live not living to eat)...It got old and I eventually branched out...(*I also had vomiting when I had my adhesions/stricture 4 weeks out, ended up on liquids for 5 of my furst 7-8 weeks)...so scared I know!!! Some thoughts: Are you getting in over 64 ounces of pure water? (Weak/dizzy makes me think dehydration) With the infections and such I bet your body needs more water. I'd focus on fluids definately. Are you getting much protein? Can you do any shakes? There is a connection w/ low protein and iron def. as well. Now for the constipation.... Colace will soften but not speed the stool, citracel (GAG) I wouldn't waste my time w/, for me the swelling fibers are not a good idea, benefiber is safe and non-swelling but again for me I didnt need bulk that just made MY constipation WORSE (concrete butt I had w. benefiber!), it was not until I discovered flax seed ground 1T a day 3x day (start slow and add) that things moved better. MOM helps in a pinch to get things moooving, then Miralax also by RX when things for me were real awful... Maybe the ABX will give you the diarrhea to help that issue? The wt loss sounds very frustrating, but I bet once you get some energy to exercise it will start moving better. When they dx the anemia (I am 99% sure it is that!), the constipation will def. need more addressing! Keep from the ferrous sulfate a constipator, not well absorbed iron and def. pouch burner! Ferrous gluconate, ferrous fumarate, polysaccharide or carbonyl iron seems gentler all together and better absorbed... Are you eating any carb? Maybe a little hot oatmeal or natural applesauce could help you? Sorry your challenged by all of this right now! Protein protein protein for healing and feuling the body thru these infections....(Shakes if you can dear friend! one easy safe way w/o risk vomiting to get it in! drink withstraw of sippy cup if the smell gags you) even if you put in food the powder! Yogart for the thrush! HUGS! Take Care, BE WELL Jamie Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh 320/163 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=c1132518510 "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"

Hi Ms Jamie E (E is short for exceptional), Yes, C is for cranky, I feel bad for my husband!! I am eating a little bit of carbs here and there, but I am so fearful of food right now that I seem to just stick with what works, beans, beans, beans. I did make a bean soup with carrots and potatoes which, not blended, I tolerated really well. I'm getting about 50 g of protein a day (per Dr Alger) and that takes work. I did find a tolerable shake...Slimfast now makes a low carb shake (no sugar, splenda instead) that I force down once daily. That has 20g of carbs in it. I've also been eating a small cup of yogurt daily. What I need is a nice big ceasar salad with grilled chicken....but I guess those days are gone and I have to work towards the goal of a nice small ceasar salad with moist chicken! I'll let you know about the bloodwork as soon as I know. Hugssssss to my angel, Ms Cranky

((((HUG))))))) well dont ever feel your cant whine to us. SOUNDS like alot going on. FIRST off some of your signs sounds like dehydration...I am sure your doing your best to get those liquids in there very important at your early post op stage. pERSONALLY WHEN I EAT TO LO OF CARBS, I GET THE DIZZIES... SORRY food is not going well. ITS hard and each month will get better with food. WHAT works one day wont work well the next...just have to be patient with trying. I am sure your not forgetting to take your multi vitaimin i know thats very important. I am so glad you got your blood work checked....hang in there! AND i think right now your at a normal first plataue stage! hang IN THERE MORE HUGS LISA XOXO

Lisa {{{{{{HUGS BACK}}}}}}}! Thank you for your sweet words. It feels good to know that I can pour my troubles out to my OH friends and there will be so much understanding! I don't think I could be dehydrated because I'm drinking over 64 oz of water a day...I guess it's possible, but I don't think I could get much more in!!! I did inch down a couple of pounds over the past 2 days, so that feels good...I'm not expecting perfection, far from that, I just want to feel like I'm healthy and making progress!!! I'm sure time will provide.... Hugs and more hugs back. You are so sweet! Thank you! Amy

Hi Amy, I hope today is a BETTER day for you! Keep the faith, you WILL feel better soon and LOSE weight!!! I too had a difficult time newly post-op and was beyond cranky ... I was downright miserable. Just remember that your new pouch needs time to adjust. I ate like a baby ~ soft food until I could graduate to something with more girth and (instead of formula) I drank 1 protein shake a day, everyday, for the first year post op! During the first year, I couldn't get enough water in my system; I was and probably still am a bit under hydrated. Just sip, sip, sip water all day, and then sip a little more. It will all come together; your body & soul need time to catch up with the changes. You aren't feeling well physically and are not turning to food for comfort so this is all new, feeling the feelings instead of stuffing them down. Keep posting, get it all out!! When you feel better, get out to a bunch of support groups!! Hugs*Kisses, Mary

Mary, You are so right about body & soul needing time to catch up. So incredibly well said. This is a big challenge on so many levels, and when one feels under the weather, it's hard to keep that perspective! Thank you for your supportive words and insight. I am going to try to get to a support group this week. Thanks for listening and posting your input. I really appreciate it. Hugs, Amy

Amy, Hun take a deep breath and relax some ~Hugs~ We are always here to listen to your ups, downs and in betweens. We all go through these times hun and it is normal, our bodies are fighting us like crazy at the beginning since we made such a change in our lives...WOW the body goes not like this now. First off what ever the blood tests shows you will deal with it then, in the mean time make sure you are getting ALL your water and then some at this time with all the meds you are taking, flush them out of your body. Second I know you know about our bodies needing the time to catch up to the changes and weight loss but I also know the frustration of NOT seeing the scale move so hang in there it will start to move again as long as your getting enough protein. I notice that when we eat to little we go into starvation mode and the weight loss slows like crazy As for the food, maybe stick to the things that you know will be ok with you right now. When you are ready again try something new and see now it goes, this is such a crazy learning thing that it does take some time. Hang in there, it WILL get better. I had the poop crazies as well SOOO what I found that worked was taking that Smooth Move tea when needed (for me it is very strong but when needed it is great), I also have the Glycolax that I can take every day but I do not need to at this point but that stuff works gentle but great! Also the added berries and nuts work AWESOME! I make sure i get some of each per day and it seems to really help, I do not use the NO FAT items because we need the some fat for our bodies and such but if I use a lot of mayo I do have the light stuff. If that makes sense? If you need to chat please just send me an email hun ~Hugs~ I am always here for you as we all are. Debra P

Hi Debra, {{{HUGS}}}} Thanks as always for your kindess and sweet words. I am so grateful that I found this web site. You and everyone here are so invaluable to me. I will try the smooth move tea. I have been doing citrucel, but it's so gross that I have been avoiding it. As to the issue of fat, I seem to be having a very bad reaction to any fat. I think that the two times that I -ed had to do with a lot of fat intake (tuna with mayo and chicken cooked in a rich tomato sauce), so I'm trying to avoid it for now, or just have it in tiny doses! It's very reassuring to hear everyone's account of similar struggles. It's hard to keep a perspective when you just feel cruddy. I keep thinking of Tavia, and how hard this has been on her and how incredibly stoic and brave and positive she's been. Very humbling. Anyway, thanks as always for listening. You're the best. xox Amy

Amy, Hun at the beginning I was sensative to the FAT as well so try the Hellmans 2 grams of fat mayo, it might just help! Good idea about thinking of Tavia but know that we are all different and we deal with things differently, that is OK! I know I can say there are so many other people that are worse off then me (in so many ways) but at the time it sure does not make ya feel better, but time will. ~hugs~ Debra P

Hellman's 2g of fat mayo? Yes, I'll definitely try that! Thanks Debra! xo