Chunky_Dunk

As soon as I had a date for my surgery I began going through all of the horribly unhealthy things that I know I will miss. I know eventually I will be able to eat whatever (just smaller portions), but it is going to be a while. I tore up big macs large fries and a coke, pizzas, pastas, fried seafood, fried chicken, buffets, etc. I know it sounds crazy, but now that I am post op and I can't eat a large variety of foods, I get on Pinterest and I look at pictures of yummy awesome foods. Everyone thinks I am torturing myself, but, honestly, it makes me feel so much better. I also found recipes for making spaghetti using zucchini or squash for Pasta, cauliflower can be made into pizza crust, tortillas, etc, cabbage for the pasta in lasagna, and grilled portobello mushroom caps as hamburger buns. I don't know how many of these things are actually going to be good, but I sure am going to enjoy finding healthy alternatives to the foods I love! http://empowered1.empoweredsustena.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/DSC05720.jpg This is a picture of a garlic cauliflower wrap. I would use this as a pizza crust. Just an example...Looks good, doesn't it?! LOL! Here is an actually cauliflower pizza made up and cooked (use your own toppings, of course) http://www.pinterest.com/pin/294282156872525738/ And here is some spaghetti made using squash in place of pasta noodles http://www.pinterest.com/pin/294282156872525641/ Good luck to you!!! And it is perfectly normal to eat before the surgery. After all, it is going to be a while before we can actually eat the foods we love (unhealthy ones anyways LOL)

Are you male or female? Is this coming from your butt or other area? (sorry if it's personal) I ask because I am a month and 2 days post op and for the past week and a half I have been having this vaginal (TMI) discharge that is brownish pink and thickish. I don't itch, burn, or have any signs of any type of infection, so I'm not sure of what it could be. I don't hurt or cramp or anything. That is why I asked. I want to know if we are experiencing the same thing. LOL! If you are male or it is coming from your hiney, then we probably aren't experiencing the same thing. Would love to know if anyone knows what this could be. I only have one period a year pre op, and true to form I started my period a couple of days before my surgery (and was on it during surgery sadly ...) And this is around the time that I started last month and I do notice that around the time I am supposed to start I just get discharge, but never blood. I am not really bleeding. I thought I was (early start of period), but I only got the brownish blood looking stuff whenever I wiped. Now after a week or so the brownish color stopped, but I am still gettng thick clear discharge. So, I don't know if that was a type of period or what in the world is going on. My body just never wants to cooperate! Any guesses?

Ok, guys...this could be an insane question, but my doc didn't specify. I am on Clear liquids for 10 days...when exactly does that start? Does my first day of my post op diet begin the day after my surgery? With my first "meal" in the hospital? My first meal outside of the hospital? I am obviously looking forward having some puree foods and milk and cream of __________ stuff and so I want to make sure that I am doing it right. I had my surgery on November 20th. So please someone let me know when my ten days started! Thank you guys sooo much!!!

Thank you guys SO much! My doc didn't specify (maybe I was supposed to already know). I am on the clear liquids only and it has been easy and hard. It is hard to keep shoving liquids down when I am not thirsty. Once my thirst is quinched, I still have to drink and it does make it difficult to get what I need. My doc told me that I can't have the Protein shakes and all (they aren't clear of course) so I'm not getting any kind of protein. I am not even getting 100 calories a day. I can only have broth, clear and diluted juices and gatorades, and Water. None of those really have anything that I need. I heard of the unjury chicken thing, but I would have to order it online and by the time I get it I will no longer need it. I had been doing Swanson low sodium chicken broth and it was just so plain...tolerable, but definitely not yummy. My Mom told me about the chicken broth granules and they help a lot! They taste like the juice after I eat Ramon Noodles. I am not really struggling. I am just stressed about being malnurish and Vitamin deficient. So, I am anxious to be able to have some protein and things that will give me Vitamins and stuff I need! A little texture and good flavor and variety would be nice, too! LOL! I am not hungry, so that definitely makes this easy. But my mind and mouth want something yummy that I can actually chew! LOL! I am so happy to hear that I can start sooner than I had originally thought. I didn't even think to ask while I was in the hospital, so I wasn't sure. After my clear liquids I can start on the "whole liquids" and "puree foods". I would love some examples! I had my surgery in Mexico and my NUT wasn't the most informative. He gave a few examples, but not a lot. He only mentioned pureed fruit, baby food, cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, cream of fish, and clam chowder. Any info there would also be extremely appreciated! I'm having a hard time knowing what counts for the puree stage and what counts for the mushy stage...they seem to be about the same?

Thanks for the info on the Isopure. I did look at some Isopure powder that was chocolate from GNC before I had my surgery. I thought they had some that were drinks already that were colored like fruity looking, but I didn't see any at the GNC I went to. Do I need to order them online, or do you think they will be at another GNC? Oh, and are those good or do they taste nasty? I will have to check further into that...that is a great idea! Thanks!

Oh, and do your Vitamins have zinc? Were you told not to take vitamins with zinc?

how do the Vitamins taste? Do they dissolve fairly quickly? I am not allowed Protein shakes until next phase. And even then I can only have one a day. That makes me feel better, though, to know that your vitamins didn't start until today. I have been stressing! LOL!

I am a week post op and my pre op diet consisted of low sugar, no fruit chunk yogurt and water. Nothing else! My diet was only 3 days. I am happy that you do have some variety in your pre op, but I know it sucks to have to do it for two weeks! I am now on an all liquid diet and it is definitely tough (and my stomach can only hold 4 - 6 ounces) so I know it has to be hard. Just try your hardest to prep your mind for it because it continues after surgery. I don't get hungry, but my mind and mouth do want flavor. I am not going to tongue lash you for cheating...it happens. You are going to learn from that, stay strong, and move on. Hopefully the stress and regret you feel will help keep you on the good path. I have another week of Clear liquids and then move on to fuller liquids (chowder and cream of... kind of stuff.) It is a tough road, but every time that I get a head craving for a food I start looking up different foods and recipes I can have in a month or two. I even found (if you think you would like to try) several websites that have alternatives to carbs. I am a huge bread, Pasta, pizza, tortilla, etc. lover! I found that the paleo diet (which I am not doing...only the low/no carb foods) has cool and healthier alternatives to those things. They have recipes for lasagna with cabbage in place of the pasta, and even ways to make bread, tortilla, pasta, and even pizza crust using zucchini, squash, cabbage, and cauliflower (not together of course.) The pictures of the foods look absolutely amazing (much better than they sound)! I am hoping that this can be a healthier alternative. Good luck to you! You will do great! God bless!

Hey, guys...I had my surgery on November 20th. I am not taking in an enormous amount of fluids, but I do think I am getting in a pretty good amount. My surgeon really had no recommendations (as far as Vitamins are concerned...I did it in Mexico). I told him that I wanted to take some and what would be ok. He said that I shouldn't take any kind of pill or chewable. He suggests only having liquid vitamins, but then he says that most liquid Multivitamins have zinc. He said that zinc is going to be bad on my stomach. The AquADEK's chewables I have have zinc, too. I did break down last night and give the liquid vitamins a try as I am so stressed out about becoming Vitamin deficient. My lips are a little chapped and when I took the liquid vitamins it burned my lips. It scared me because then I was scared of what it was doing to my freshly cut stomach. I don't know if maybe it was due to the vitamins being citrus flavored (my doc said nothing citrus or acidic) or if it was the vitamin itself. Any suggestions? I really need to be taking something! Any recommendations on a good Multivitamin? I prefer liquid if anyone has any info. I know I can handle swallowing down a less tasty liquid easier than chewing a less tasty chewable that will stay ground in my teeth and last for a while! Thanks! I was also told that I shouldn't have any Protein powder/drinks or anything at all. My diet right now strictly consists of swanson low sodium chicken broth, Water, and juices. I am not getting much calories, protein, vitamins...anything really.

I have been struggling with this as my doc said that liquid Vitamins were all I could have, but then he said that most liquid Multivitamins contain zinc and it would hurt my stomach. I had already bought some liquid multivitamins which were citrus flavored and extremely tolerable in flavor. My lips are a little chapped, though, and as I took the Vitamin it made my lips burn. This worried me because it is it burning my slightly chapped lips, imagine what it is doing to my freshly cut stomach! I know I am not getting much in vitamin wise and I HAVE to get some vitamins, but even my AquADEK's chewable vitamins have zinc...Any suggestions? My stomach has been pretty weak post op and I don't know if I can tolerate anything too nasty. Do you think the burning was from the citrus flavoring or the vitamin itself? I just don't know...

Ok, guys...I have a thing about needles. I have had two babies both through c-section and the only thing I was worried about both times was the iv and the spinal tap. I found out today that while in the hospital I will get pain meds in my iv and then a shot in my shoulder at night for pain. I am not scared as much of the pains from surgery as hard as that is to believe as i am of getting the actual iv and the pain med shot. So i guess what i am wanting to know is...how much does the pain shot in the shoulder hurt? I don't really know if the needle thing is as much fear of the pain as some sort of mental fear. I mean... had my stomach cut wide open and a baby taken out so you would think a needle wouldn't be an issue...idk. thanks in advance for the info. Just want to mentally prepare myself. I like to know what to expect lol!

See I am having my surgery in Mexico so maybe she misunderstood what I meant by frozen yogurt? I am glad I asked you guys...I think I will just stick with what I know works. Thanks soooo much for all of the help guys!!!

Ok, guys...I am scheduled for surgery November 19th and I am supposed to start my yogurt and water diet soon. I work right next door to Orange Leaf. For those of you that don't know it is a frozen yogurt place. Their yogurt is out of this world and I could totally survive a month on that if I had to lol! I know that I can't have fruit chunks in my pre-op yogurt, but I found no mention of frozen yogurt. Anyone know if that is ok??? I am hoping for a yes! LoL Please let me know! I just prefer the taste of the frozen yogurt as it is almost like ice cream lol Please don't get me wrong...I like some regular yogurt as well. Now I am just rambling lol look forward to some great answers! God bless and good night! ..