I started read the book I bought, Before & After, and I realized that journaling could be an important part of my new journey in life. I feel that I will help me later on recall what I went through in the early stages and help me conquer problems I may face in the future. Maybe it could even help someone else in the future as they start their journey.

So lets see....I am 3 days post op today, which happens to be Thanksgiving. I sent Rick to my parents house to enjoy the day and to finally get some real food since he has been kinda deprived lately living with me. Honestly, i am not really bummed about the not eating part of today, but I am kinda bummed that i am not spending the day with my family like i do every year. I could have went and sat there, but the temptation would have been too great from mental hunger, and i didn't want to be in a bad mood and ruin everyone else's day. There will be many other times I will be able to enjoy with my family, so this one day isn't going to kill me. Rick has been there for a while, so hopefully he is enjoying himself.

Rick and my family, mainly my mom and aunt Pattie have been a huge amount of help. Aunt Pattie answers any questions i have, and calls to make sure that i am OK. Mom has been spending alot of time with me and helping my do everything that i need help with, as well as doing my share at work. Rick has been there to respond to my every need, and trying to make me as comfy as possible. He has also been great with making food in the house. He has been using the grill outside to make the house smell less like food, and will not talk to me about what he eats. I still ask him anyway because i am interested in what he is eating, and it isn't making my jealous like i thought it would be.

Today is the first day that i am starting to fell alittle physically hungery. I had the wierdest craving for a sandwich on my way home from the hospital, and i usually hate sandwiches. That mental hunger is wierd. lol. I have a protien boulian that i was gonna have today, but my mom is making me some homemade turkey broth, so i think i will have that when rick gets home. After reading what alot of people have said on here, they all wanted to cheat and eat real food right away. I am terrified that i am drinking too much water, none the less wanting to eat real food!! I have been giving the oppertunity of a lifetime here, and i certainly dont want to do anything to fuck that up! I am even staying on clear liquids longer then Dr Kaul recommends.

The hardest part that i have encountered so far is who too listen too as far as what i should be doing at this stage. With the whole Dr Kwon / Dr Kaul changing thing, ive gotten two sets of instructions. Dr Kwon seems to be more in tune with what lap banders need and what gives them the best results. Dr Kauls office seems to try to make a plan that is productive for banders and for rny patients. So what i think i am going to do is kinda combine the two diets and see what works best for me. Dr Kwon says clear liquids for 5 days, which would be tomorrow, where Dr Kaul says to drink solid liquids as soon as you get home. I know i wasnt ready for the yesterday. I will have my broth later, which will be the second thing i have had besides crystal light and water. I had a sugar free italian ice last night to try to get down my broken up anafranil capsule, but that was horrible. I think i might try a protien shake tomorrow, the 3 oz that dr kaul recommends. That brings me to my next concern, which is probably my biggest issue so far: pills!

I have been breaking down my pain killers into 6 small pieces because i am so afriad to get it stuck in the stoma, or in the small pouch and irriate my stomach or cause band erosion. I cut my pepcid pill in half also. Tonight i think i will take my anafranil whole because it is a cap and it will break down and shouldnt ** cause a problem. I also took my chewable centrum today for the first time. I dont want to over do all these pills and viatamins without having any protien in my system. They gave me come gaul-stone prevention caps, but they are huge. I am kinda fearful of taking them, so i am going to call Becky tomorrow and see what she recomends. Slowly I hope to be back on all of my viatamins by the end of the weekend.

My body still aches alittle, and i am still having gas pains. I have been burping and passing gas, so hopefullly this will all pass soon. My back and legs hurt from the lack of movement. I am used to moving around a bit, and being on my bike, so my body isnt that happy with the lack of movement.

Well, my broth is here, so i am going to go and see how this goes down, then attempt my first shower. I have a work meeting tomorrow, so I need to be at least presentable. lol

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