Peacock's Point

Hey Kelly, I was just noticing your ticker - WOW - have you really lost 88 lbs. since May 9th, 2011? That's fantastic! How have you lost it so fast? A lot of exercise, Protein and veg only, etc.... Congrats!

Only speaking from the information my nutritionist gave me - starting on the 4th week (22 days out) we should be consuming no more than 3-4 oz. at a time. To be honest, that's even tough for me. I had 1/2 cup of refried Beans last night and I could only eat half of that. I'll scramble one egg and I can only eat about half of that as well. My worry is about not getting enough Protein in with normal food. I supplement my day with a protein shot = 25 grams. I have found I can eat shaved smoked deli turkey, 2 oz., and that gives me 11 grams of protein (it'll depend on what type of deli meat you get. Also, apparently, you shouldn't try to consume more than 18-25 grams of protein in one sitting - your body can only absorb so much. I hope this helps a little.

My surgery was June 20th, start of 4th week (22 days from surgery) and I'm on soft foods. Soft foods include, for me - refried beans, cottage cheese, soft scrambled eggs, canned soft vegetables (non-fiberous), mashed potatoes, canned tuna or chicken with a little mayo, shaved deli meats, etc... I'm not allowed soft bread or pasta for a while but I can have really really toasted bread or melba toast. Your doctor says you can be on a full diet (I'm not one ot argue with a doctor) but if you've only been on liquids up until this point, personally, I would take it slower then just jumping into full foods. I can be on full foods, according to my doctor's plan on the starting of my 7th week. Good luck!

I'm having the same issue. I had my surgery June 20th and I was on the protein shakes two weeks beforehand and I've had nothing but diarrhea since. To make matters worse, I was treated with antibiotics (Clindamycin) for pneumonia and diarrhea could be a serious side effect. Unfortunately, I had it so bad yesterday, there was also a lot of blood. I'm not certain if it's the 'time of the month' or it came from my bowels. The nurse at my doctor's office is suggesting that I might be lactose intolerant and wants me to switch to soy protein shakes. She also thinks the blood could be from hemorrhoids or lower GI problem since it wasn't a black/tar/black speck look, which could indicate bleeding from upper GI. I'm not real keen on soy, so I'm going to see if there are other alternatives. Are we supposed to have solid bowel movements on liquid diets? Thanks for posting! (sorry about being so graphic)

I had my surgery done on Monday, June 20th. Immediately when I came out of surgery I had shoulder pain and it was very difficult for me to breathe. Both the shoulder pain and breathing subsided over the next few days. I was given very good pain relievers in the hospital. If I did have any shoulder pain, it was always assumed that it was trapped gas. With trapped gas - walk, walk, walk, heat pad and pain killers. I would then get flareups of shoulder pain at night time when trying to sleep. I couldn't sleep on my back, at all, for days. On Monday, June 27th I went to the ER where I was diagnosed with pneumonia. I had extreme shortness of breathe, pain across chest, shoulders, and neck. The interesting thing is that I did not have a fever and I was not coughing, which would be typical of pneumonia. While in the ER they did a chest x-ray, CAT Scan, blood test, IV fluids. It was the chest x-ray and blood test that gave the doctors the answers to what was happening. I'm sure it was pretty strange to see a patient, that looked pretty ill to be sitting straight up in the gurney. I could not lie down AT ALL! When they tried to do the CAT Scan, it was miserable because you have to lie on your back. We managed by putting a couple of pillows under my head and quickly performed the procedure. I am allergic to penicillin and when this was indicated to the ER doctor he said, "That could be trouble." Not very reassuring! The ER doctors wanted to admit me to the hospital and give me my antibiotics throught the IV. My surgeon sent me home with liquid antibiotics. I am currently taking Azithromycin and Clindamycin. Just a side note, the Clindamycin is the nastiest tasting medicine I have ever tasted. Yes, I feel like I am on the mend, but I sure wish I could get my left shoulder pain to go away. The shoulder pain is niggling there but it's also felt when I try to take a deep breathe in. It seems when you have pneumonia that is in the lower lobe, a lot of patients will have the referred pain in that shoulder, whichever side the pneumonia is on. I'm writing this so that others who continue to have the horrible shoulder pain take another look at it to make sure that it's not pneumonia. I hope my experience will make others aware.

Just to give you a little follow-up on my situation too and hopefully it will help others. Luckily the drinking of fluids has gotten much better but I kept continuing to have shoulder pain at night time whenever I would lie down. It got so bad yesterday that I took Tylenol, did a heating pad and walked around thinking it was gas trapped. I got the shoulder pain to go away but I continued to have horrible chest, shoulder, neck pain and shortness of breath - I could barely move. I went to ER yesterday in which they did a chest x-ray, CAT scan and blood tests. I was diagnosed with pneumonia. I am feeling a little better today with a lot of antibiotics and pain meds. If something doesn't feel right, please get it checked out friends!

I had surgery on Monday (6/20/11) and I've been working through my issues At night I can't seem to get comfortable. When I lay flat and not at an incline I seem to get left shoulder pain. I don't think it's gas, but maybe radiating pain from where the stomach was removed or my hiatal hernia was repaired. It's just not making for a very good night sleep and still uncomfortable in the mornings. I read about supporting the abdomen with a pillow. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Okay, one day behind me and I'm already feeling that little bit better! Hallelujah! I'm able to get down a little more Water, a little more Protein drink. I think I felt completely guilty that I couldn't get down the 40 grams or protein and 40 oz. of water in one day. Well, tough. I'm doing it as my body is allowing it and I'm feeling better already. For those of you who haven't had the procedure yet and this was a scarey post - don't feel frightened, be grateful for the awareness. The awareness that it might be possibly difficult to drink any fluids shortly after the surgery but to be aware that it does seem to go away and to be aware not to beat yourself up if you can't get all of the liquids in at once. One day at a time!

Are you serious? Were you constantly getting the tight throat, quivering stomach when you would drink your Water or Protein drink? I wonder if I could ask my doctor for this to try and help. I'm feeling awful, not being able to get any liquids down.

I'm right there with you! I had surgery on Monday and I can't seem to get anything down without it causing horrible gas pains. I've tried gas-X, walking, drinking slowly, etc... I just don't want to try and get any liquids down because it's so uncomfortable. Hopefully, someone has some suggestions on how to get these liquids down. Thanks for posting! The other thing is, it's not the gas in the bowels it's the gas when you swallow something and it doesn't go down smoothly and your throat tightens up slightly, a little pain in the throat/chest area as it tries to go down. I wonder if my repaired hernia might have something to do with this too.