Me13

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

For the past few days, since I've started my protein supplements, I've been writing down what I've been drinking; I am on a liquid diet for the next few weeks. 

As far as I could tell, I have been taking in enough liquids (Goal:  48 oz of fluid) and enough protein (45 grams of protein).  I decided to use FitDay.com to log in what I've been taking so I'll have some sort of food log to keep me aware of things. 

Thursday, 8-5-2010:  42 oz of fluid
Friday, 8-5-2010: 40 oz of fluid

A little off base, but at least I was getting enough protein, right?  Wrong!  Ack!  Thanks to help with the food log, I see that

Thursday, I actually only had 245 calories and 28.3 grams of protein.  (Really, only 245 calories?!?!)
Friday, I had 245 calories and 29.8 grams of protein. 

I think I'll be adding another protein drink or two each day and that should take care of that, hopefully.  But it just goes to show  you that a food log is helpful. 

I'm a little worried that I didn't know that I had to restrict liquid to no more than 20 ox per 10-15 minutes.  I had one 6 oz protein drink in about 5 minutes or so.  Hope it didn't stretch out my pouch.  And I'm a little concerned that it didn't make me fill ill at all.  Hmmm...

Today is Thursday.  I had my surgery on Monday.  I've lost 10 pounds.  That gallbladder of mine musta been heavy!


I only slept in two hour intervals last night ...I had a light fever last night, took some Tylenol.  I had to go to the bathroom a few times this morning -- was slighty concerned -- but when I had my first protein drink, all seemed to be better.  Muscle Milk, Chocolate.  Made with water.  Not as bad as I thought it was going to be, but it ain't no chocolate frosty ice cream shake.  ; )

I'm tyring to organize my pills now -- too hot and humid to go outside, so I'm using Wii Fit in the comfort of my living room.  I can move around pretty well now, though trying to sleep in my bed is still a little uncomfortable.  I slept with pillows and my kids stuffed animals to help stuff it around so that my body didn't ache.  Sorta worked.

My pap machine seemed pretty annoying last night, too. 

Still, glad I am here where I am today.  Thought it was going to be much, much worse.

I'm at home now.  Ride home was uneventful.  Super glad my little kids weren't with me as all I want is peace and quiet.  I have a little headache.  Think I'll take a shower now.  

Really, still tired, so I'm still napping, getting up, sipping.  Had some SF jello and a sugar free pop today.  They weren't delicious, but will do in a pinch.  

I have a sore throat, so it was nice to have something cold.  I'm wondering if I should have a little OTC Liquid Tylenol. 

Most importantly, I'm wondering if I should make my protein powder with water or milk...and which brand I should use first:

Unjury
Muscle Milk Lite
Isopure
Myoplex

Suggestions?  Perhaps I'll post this in a forum.  Btw, I'm not hungry at all, but have noticed a lot of fodo commercials on TV!

August 4, 2010

Warning:  TMI ahead!  You've been warned!

I passed gas this morning!  They have kept on asking if I have, and when I woke up this morning, voila!  There is was!  

And then I went to the bathroom and was surprised that I not only peed, but I pooped, too.  Well, poop is a loose term.  And I mean that literally.  Dark dark greenish blobs of something.  I figure that is surgery related?  I don't know; the surgeon is coming in soon to talk about discharge so I'll talk to him about it.  The residents seem unimpressed.  

Unbelievable to think I'm going home today.  A part of me thinks that I like staying here because walking is easy and when I need meds they are easy to get.  On the other hand, my body kinda aches and somehow I think that being at home will help.


I've been sipping my water, doing deep breath exercises, walking, peeing.  

One tip:  When I move from chair to standing up, or just moved myself in bed to my side or with my head up, I am bound to get a burp out.  I think this has been good for me.  My roommate is still suffering a bit from what I can tell.  Yesterday she had a friend come by -- and she had gastric bypass 2 years ago with the same doctor and she looks great.  You'd never know.  She said she has gained some weight, but frankly she looked so skinny it was hard to believe.  She walks 9 miles a day as a medical assistant.  She showed me some pictures of her from 2 years ago -- a different person!  She also said that the first 8 weeks are the hardest (clear liquids, puree) but after that it has been totally fine.  

I hope!

Just wrote a blog post and when i pushed "send" I realized that it might sound like I'm having a glowing time here in the hospital.  I'm not, I just know it could be worse -- I was expecting much worse.  But it's not all puppies and moonbeams   - -anyone who would do this for any other reason other than their health would be crazy.  My roommate is having a tough time, for instance.  

I've had 2.5 oz of water in nearly 3 hours.  And I'm totally full like i can't have another sip, so I'm trying to lap it up like a kitten to its milk and see where that gets me.  I'm sore, I have a headache, I'm walking and I'm sipping.  And I'm taking deep breaths.  And burping.  And hiccuping.  No signs of passing gas the other way yet...

August 3, 2010

Yesterday I was as high as a kite on morphine -- I really felt no pain and at one point just looked at my wife and shrugged like "no big deal."  I was pretty out of it though, and slept ALOT.  

the no drinking anything was a bit tough, but the hospital handed out little sticks with a sponge-type of thing on it.  they stick it in ice and let you scrub your tongue and lips with it.  It helped, believe it or not.

I was very hot after surgery, so my wife rubbed me with ice cubes.  lol  I was also able to get a fan from teh hospital -- a big industrial one -- so as someone else has suggested, if you have a small desk fan or something, you might want to bring it with you to the hospital.

I was so out of it yesterday that I didn't read or watch tv or even listen to my iPod.

This morning was a little rough -- I coughed up who knows what (I literally kept my eyes shut) -- all I know is that the nurse said "don't worry -- that's just left over stuff from the operation".  I'm sure it was gross, but I felt much less queasy after that!  I stopped the morphine today because I wanted to be a little more clear-headed.  I took liquid tylenol with codeine along with my first ounce of water!  all went down fine and i feel kind of sparky!  I've taken a few walks...it gets better each walk, though my insides feel like they're going to fall out.  

i've used the toilet...fine...everything seems to be fine.  i have a small headache and the upper area where the lap. went kinds hurts, but it WAS surgery, so i'm not gonna freak out about it.

i still can't believe i had this done.  

upward and onward. 

hi

quick note ... i did it!  feeling for the most part much better than i thought!  

i'm still on morphine, so i am sleeping constantly, but overall, pleased! 

August 1, 2010

So, today's my last day pre-op.  Despite nervous jitters and the shortness I displayed to my family  this morning (sorry!  stress!), I don't think I can be any more prepared than I am.  It's 9pm, I haven't had anything to eat since 10am (wow, those eggs *can* fill you up!) and I'm doing alright, though I feeel like there is a little reflux happening, which is unusual to me.  My left breast is sore, too, but that is just me being a hypochondriac. : )   (I just had a breast exam and a mammography.)  

A good thing that my wife took the kids away this afternoon to a friends house so I could just sit and relax.  My goodbye to them was a little emotional for me -- mostly because my littlest one (4) couldn't give a crap and my eldest (6) was tearful, maybe a little scared.  It was not the way I'd like for it to have been...but good to have a quiet house this afternoon, to focus on me and for it being peaceful.  I'd recommend it for other parents about to undergo surgery. 

Today I let some people know about the surgery.  Funny, no one said "DON'T DO IT!" like I thought they might.  Hmmm.   More like they're rooting me on.  Good to have folks to help keep you accountable, but also rooting you on.

Now to pack for the hospital, I suppose. 

Peace.

Stephanie

July 31, 2010

I'm sure I'm overthinking everything.  Look!  Two blog posts in one day!  

I've been thinking about the surgery -- less than 48 hours away -- and what I really think about is my fear of losing weight and then gaining it back.  I know it happens for a lot of people and I so don't want that to happen to me, after going through this whole process.  So many of us have been on diets before, but we relapse after a certain period of time.  I am hoping that this surgery is such a drastic measure that it will keep me on my toes.

Yesterday I was thinking about how much I will miss food as I know it -- I got a little teary about it.  The few people who know about the surgery asked if I'm excited about it.  No, not really.  But I know it's what I have to do -- I have to change course.  This is really the only option for me. 

July 31, 2010

For the most part I've liked my Danbury Hospital experience.  The office is nice -- and it seems pretty well organized, etc.  The only thing that is particularly peculiar to me is that they did not discuss my medications and vitamins.  

Thanks to the people on this site, and backed up by a website that I liked called Drugs.com, I have been able to find out that

* I shouldn't take iron with calcium or Prevacid;
* I should take Calcium citrate;
* Charcoal (for gas) effects the absorption of many drugs, including Tylenol;
* I should not take Levoxyl/Synthroid (for hypothyroid) with Iron (separate taking them by 2-4 hours), or my multi-vitamin (separate by 4 hours);  or calcium citrate (separate by 4 hours);
* I should take iron 2 hours away from antacids; 
* I shouldn't take b-12 with Prevacid

With vitamin intake such an important part of this whole experience, one would think that they'd spend a little time on this.