Beni

I don't know if you have ever had cats. I did for many years. They do this funny thing after they use the litter box for #2 they run around the house like mad sprinting in delight. Six days, guess who is running around the house?

@@layknee You are an inspiration. It is easy to move forward when things are going well. It is when you have a raw deal that it takes all our "gladiator" core to fight on. This is what it is and yes, you can make it forward. Perhaps your journey started a little harder but that does not determine your end baby. Work on it, seek the advice of your doctor and follow the protocol. If some issue arrises face it head on my friend. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU that I have tears running down my face. Everyday you will be able to drink a little more. Your pouch will stretch and the swelling will go down. Baby steps!

Lose skin is going to happen anyway but working your abs will be the best way of achieving the waist you want. I did buy a binder but more for support because I need it as it hurts to turn.

On the subject of bad breath a bit ago I read a post somewhere that some complain of bad breath and bad body odor apparently as you burn all the extra fat you stink. Won't that be lovely? My doctor explained that with a RNY the small pouch is connected to a RNY limb that goes straight down. It's almost like before you had a trap (just like under the sink) but now it's a straight line. You have a bit of a septic line odor coming straight up. Another lovely think to live with. Once we heal, lets buy lots of those little pumps of mouth deo (listerine like stuff) for every purse and every nock and cranny. We are going to need it. I have also been told to brush 3 times a day all that bad breath brings bacteria and it will eat away at your teeth. But we will be healthy and skinny, so not so bad!

It's Biotin. But it is not a sure remedy. If your body decides it needs to place hair growth on hold, my understanding is, it will. But Biotin is supposed to help. I have been advised to wait until 4 weeks to start because I should not take anything that is not absolutely necessary until my pouch is completely healed. Makes sense!

@@Naynay31 I can't remember but did you have the sleeve or RNY? You may want to update your profile when you have a chance. It's an easy reference for us as to your date and surgery type. It's super easy on the very top of the page on right side is your circle icon click on it and the settings options drop menu appears. You don't get a full feeling, it's more of like a feeling of having something stuck in your pipe. Like when you swallowed a bite before surgery too quickly that required a little drink to wash it down. It's a mild feeling not a, get me glass of Water I have an apple chunk stuck in my esophagus kind of feeling. Your pouch is full of gas and it is swollen and even a sip will cause it to feel something. I sip, walk, burp, sit and repeat 5,000 times per day. It also takes 3 seconds from the time you drink something to the when you feel your pouch. You are in a state of perpetual awareness of your pouch at this stage. At least I am. It is like a newborn baby. I have to check on it all the time and keep it happy, burped, hydrated, warm and cozy. But we are getting along and learning about each other and I kind of love it already as I have lost 16 lbs since this all started. Time to update my ticker!

Expressing your feeling is not wrong but you do have control over the way you express them. The last thing you want is to develop a new coping mechanism (food no longer available) to deal with stress and becoming a A-hole is very possible. Specially since your statements will get some attention. It's amazing how the human mind can settle for negative attention and even crave it in the absence of what it needs. You will have to dig deep and find the things that make you happy and support you in order not to be so dependent on the negative attention. Try a time out before saying something rash. work the words in your head before saying them. Ask, is it necessary, what will it accomplish, is it kind, will it help me? any thought process to delay reactive responses is always good. If you find that you cannot control your emotions/statements then Therapy would be advisable.

The hospital doesn't process your bill right away. It will be a month until you actually receive it and then you can always call and arrange a payment plan. The hospital portion is usually the most flexible because they are a large organization they may allow you to pay in portions. After all they can't send it to collection until 3 notices go out. Do call them right away, you want to work with them. Ignoring it is the worst approach. On the day of surgery all they require is the co-pay. I was told $1,000 but when I got there I was asked for only $250. You will receive separate bills for 1) hospital 2) anesthesia team 3) lab work performed in hospital 4) surgeon 5) surgeon assistant These bills will all trickle in at different times since they are billed by different organizations. Your doctor's bill is the top priority since you will be going to that office for follow up for a long time. You can also get a personal loan or use a credit card. Check the best rate though. A personal loan from your bank is usually less then a credit card. You can pay it off slowly and all will be well. Hope it helps

I am 5 days out. It is vital to keep a Water log. Find a system that works for you. Right now I have a note book where I have times and tick marks. Water drinking is a full time job at this point. If you are not sleeping you are drinking. Mind you it takes me 5 to 6 sips to drink 1 oz in about 15 minutes. What worked well for me yesterday ( I made it 40 oz for the day) is to have a glass with 5 ounces. I drew a line in sharpie on a wine glass. My goal is to drink that in an hour. In 10 hours is should get 50oz. I also drink anytime I wake up during the night. I make sure I stay awake 15 minutes to drink my 1 oz. My favorite drink solution has been 1/4 no sugar added apple juice, a tablespoon pedialite and the rest water. I feel the sweetness in the apple and the salty of the pedialite and my tummy likes it. Diluted Crystal Light and Low salt broth (with a scoop of GENEPRO unflavored protein) are also yummy. sugar free popsicles are also good but I too can hardly tolerate the sweetness in the vanilla and chocolate Protein shakes. Having said all that if you have not been able to get enough liquids and you feel very sick then you will have to go to emergency room and have them place you on IV for fluids. Call your doctor of course. They have a 24 hour service answering calls. It is an outpatient procedure and they will likely only admit you as inpatient if you are dangerously dehydrated and require days of fluids. Even in ER I would be working my fluids because when you get home you still have to work at it. I never imagined drinking enough fluids was such a hard job but it is. Right now it is even more important then sleep.

Oh I am so glad they are watching over you

@@smiley922 I was also told use a measuring cup and the total is to be 1/2 cup. The first egg was recommended to do 1/2 an egg mixed with low fat maio. It it doesn't disturb your pouch then I can graduate to a full egg the next day. The best advice I received was to take a bite read a whole book page before going on to the next bite. I think it takes a minute for your pouch to signal it is full and overfilling means throwing up and nobody wants that. I supposed to edge on the side of caution as you get after the halfway point on your meal makes sense. Also it is there to make sure you chew everything to death. Can't wait to get there.

@ Bronxmerci I understand the blood cloth got to your liver. Not much you could do about that. Raw deal and it just plain sucks, there is no way to sugar coat it. But you can make it through this. One step at a time. Gladiators are fighters and so are you. Are you able to go to bathroom? If you can, I have a suggestion for a TMI bath of sorts. I asked for a couple towels and wash cloth. They also gave me a little bar of soap. I used the wash cloth with some soap for face, neck, pits and what I could reach. Then using one of the big towels which I wet with warm Water and a touch of soap and go it as twisted as I could to wring out the water. Very carefully I placed a leg on top of the toilet using the door handle for support. I then, after a few attempts was able to swing the towel between legs and catch it with the other hand. Then did a dental floss sort of clean working my towel. I felt human again because I too couldn't shower and felt gross. I used the last towel to dry up. I decided to make this post public because I thought others may benefit from it. It is hard to keep clean as our tummy has 6 holes and is sore and we can't bend our waist as before. This is the reality nobody talks about but it can make such a difference in our outlook if at least we can feel clean.

You have to drink super slow that's why I call it work because you have keep at it for hours and you can't get distracted

Bronxmerci I drink 1 oz per 15 minutes. In other words, for one of those tiny cups it takes 5 or 6 sips. I can't drink 1 oz at a time.

I have been working and I don't say that word lightly all day to get 35 oz. I was hoping for 40 but there is no way. I feel okay but I so want you to feel Okay too

Oh my gosh, I feel for you. Hope the dang clot dissolves soon. In a bit you will be able to drink. Give your body a chance. You have a very rare but dangerous complication. I am glad you are in the hospital. They will watch over you. Sending love and best wishes

I must say egg drop soup sounds amazing

I see, are you allowed egg and the soup is usually thickened with cornstarch? You could always add some water and strain it. But I am not sure if its okay. I would ask the NUT on Monday. Don't want you to get sick

But if you are on the liquid phase I think low sodium chicken, beef or vegetable broth is it. Surprising I love the chicken broth warm and I eat it like a soup with a spoon

How far from surgery are you?

Not refried beans, I think it's only blended chick peas

Yes, me too, protein shakes are only for early stages because our stomachs can't digest most animal protein and we need it to heal our scars inside and out. It's meant as a temporary fix and its easily absorbed. I am glad this is temporary because protein shakes are not my fave. I don't have my list in front of me but I am supposed to eat hummus, refried beans and Greek yogurt fairly soon

I have my recliner heating pad cup of camomile tea comfy blanket. I am in heaven. Total decadence

Because I have been getting up from my bed too much. I have developed a bit of a pain on the side I get out of bed. I think turning and pushing has caused it. I fired up my heating pad and now I feel wonderful. It worked wonders. I have also raised the temperature in my house twice. I feel a little cold

@@tacycakes My doctors NUT has us not take any lactose products for the first 6 weeks. Only yogurt because it is easily tolerated. I am on skim Lactaid. It tastes great and I can't tell the difference when I mix it with my Unjury vanilla powder. I was also told your lactose intolerance will resolve itself once all your stomach enzymes stabilize however some become lactose intolerant. I pretty much think I will because I was borderline before anyway and both my mother and her mother are.