Coralia Theophile

The way it was explained to me is that you're training yourself to savor the food, chew it more thoroughly because you're apparently getting more nutrients out of the food, which also is supposed to help keep your weight down once eating isn't a problem. For me, eating tiny bits is no problem because I'm still trying to sneak food into my stomach, but stretching my meal to 30 minutes? No, I don't want to eat anymore long before that, unless I do a very thin (not much else besides the broth) soup.

I'm having the same issue here. Regardless of whether I'm hungry or not, 3-4 bites (6 if I'm famished) is my limit. It worries me a little because I don't want to be "undernourished (I did buy chewable vitamins)." And it kind of makes me happy (sorry) that i'm not the only one who is sensitive to smells! The smell of bacon nauseates me; my family has been cooking bacon every day since I stopped eating pre-surgery, and I HATE the smell. I thought it was a mental thing, but last night when I came home from work the smell from the morning masked the chitterlings they cooked that evening. BLECH!

I'm having that same issue too. Up until today I couldn't do any more than 5 sips of anything. Today, I had significantly more water and Protein than ever, but still wasn't able to complete my 32 oz bottle or get through an entire bottle of Isopure. Sent from my iPhone using VST

From my research, and dr confirmed, I thought there shouldn't be a dumping syndrome! OMG and I'm starting soft foods on Tuesday? I'm trembling in my boots now! Sent from my iPhone using VST

OK, I think I'm delirious; I realized I just questioned if third week is too early, when I could be at three weeks myself (I'm hungry, guys). So my question REALLY is regarding my sense of timing - meaning the dates themselves in terms of the three weekers: are you saying that you ate soft foods "at week 3" or "three weeks after surgery" which would now be the 30th?

Today is the first day I'm feeling actual hunger pangs! I haven't been hungry at all for the past three weeks, but today DO NOT let a cow pass me cuz I might eat him alive! Now, when I first came onto this board, I wanted to ask how anyone dealt with severe hunger at the clear liquid stage, but after reading the thread I read some awful, awful things that concerned me (particularly, the patient who ate pasta two weeks out and died, for instance). I've read that people have waited a month to get to soft foods, I've read that some have waited three weeks. Now, according to my info, I can start eating soft foods on Tuesday (entering my third week). That seems soon based on the posts I've read. Am I anxious to eat pasta? No, but I'd kill for some broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage even if I had to boil it down to kingdom come. But my question is now this: have any of you been allowed to eat soft foods at week 3 (or is it maybe that I'm reading my form wrong - I'm counting from July 9-16 as week 1, the 16th-23 as week 2).

Hi Softballmom, I think everyone is coming from a place of concern. This is just my understanding of the process (based on research before having the surgery - I only had the surgery a week before yours), but your incisions are still healing inside. To put food on top of the incision could cause infection, possibly ripping - basically consequences that could compromise your health. I've had experience with incision issues with my teeth once: I had my wisdom teeth removed and was placed on a liquid diet then. The broth I used at the time had seasoning in it (just several tiny bits of green floating around in the soup). Those herbs, however, caused my jaw to swell horribly due to infection. I couldn't believe that something so small could cause such issues. That said, please don't rush yourself, not because it'll affect your weight loss; please don't rush because of your HEALTH. And please reconsider leaving the site; the people here are very supportive and have lots of information that can help you through this journey. Best wishes.

Thank you everybody. I started by telling my center about it and will be writing letters tomorrow. In my anger though I totally forgot to ask questions about the next phase and where it starts (oops) so ill be taking care of that also (with my center, thank you). I'll keep you posted! Sent from my iPhone using VST

I made a HUGE mistake. I'm now sitting in the waiting room of my surgeon's office waiting for my post op and hopefully to have my drain removed. The OBand center made the appointment for me last week. This morning I was so anxious for this appointment, I wore myself out getting dressed, cleaning my wound, hiding the drain, and then getting to the bus. I started not feeling well so instead of my cane, I took my walker. I have to go back a little further - yesterday my drain started to show a little pus around the stitches which is also a reason I so looked forward to this appointment. And yes, I did call when I saw it, but the nurse's response was "Well it's a good thing you're seeing the doctor". I was always advised before that you call for every issue, even if I think it's not a big deal. I felt like an idiot for calling. Fast forward to now, while I'm sitting in the dr's office an hour past my appointment. When I came in, I said good morning to the woman at the desk, who only side-eyed me before turning away (mind you, I've never been to the surgeon's actual office. I've always gone to the center for all my appointments). I signed in and sat down to wait. My doctor arrived at 10am, but seemed busy with calls. It happens, but after 45minutes past my appointment, I thought I'd check to see when they thought I might be able to see him. I asked, "I had an appointment with Dr Lyass at 10:15. Can you tell me how much longer it may be?" The woman at the desk, the one who side-eyed me, answered, "Talk to her". "Her" was another woman behind the desk. They exchanged words in a language I didn't understand, then "Her" went to get a third woman to speak to me, who I'll call "Three." Now Three is actually decent to me, and tells me that because the center made the appointment, they didn't put it in the system (wha'?). The doctor will just see me after surgery. Yes, that's what she said. But there's an update, because I take so long to text - I'm not young. His 11am appointment just went in. Yes, before his 10:15. If I didn't have a pus-y tube sticking out of my stomach, I'd leave right now, I'm so angry. Sent from my iPhone using VST

I'm learning so much more on the internet than I am from my physicians! I received instructions from the hospital on how to take care of my drain, but they weren't the entire instructions (as per the instructions I found on the internet). Nowhere in my verbal or handout instructions did it say I was allowed or required to change the dressing - just empty, alcohol wipe, bend and close. I know this is gross, but I did sniff the output before flushing it down to make that it actually wasn't the fluid. The output didn't have a smell, so I deduced that the smell was the dressing. I walked to Walgreens and bought saline, gauze pads, and tape. Removed the film (which had been loosening due to my showers anyway), cleaned my wound, and redressed it. I feel so much better now (no smell, and the pain has decreased significantly). When any of you had it, did you get specific instructions in terms of the dressing?

Good to know. I'm still in the clear liquids only phase, but wondered how I'm supposed to get all the nutrients I should have in (especially since I can only do a few sips of anything at a time). Thank you for sharing that information.

I have a drain now and it is the source of intense pain when I move. It also leaks onto my clothing (which they tell me is normal). I had to use sanitary napkins just to protect my clothing (the fluid that comes out smells just awful). I know I can't wait til they remove it on Wednesday.

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum (this is my first stop). I actually had surgery on Tuesday, and while I know I shouldn't be looking so hard at the scale, I noticed that I had gained 5 pounds since I checked myself into the hospital. The nurse said I shouldn't worry - it could be because of the IV fluids being so heavy, but that 5 pounds was shocking. Has anyone else experienced this?