Dabliss111114

What about some Pasta marinara? Pretty much the same? Being Italian, I may sink into a serious depression if I can't ever enjoy a small piece of pizza or a small plate of pasta.

I have been posting in a thread I started last month looking for people to connect with who were having surgery this month. I saw this post and jumped in. What A great Idea. @@LipstickLady posted some really thought provoking comments on why we choose not to share all of this with everyone. Thanks for your insight. Let's see, most of these people are from that other thread, but I want to "high five" some of my new friends..... @NewJeffery, for telling it like it is and making me laugh, @ ready2B for just being so sweet and always keeping a positive attitude @@time4change, who has been a wonderful supportive new friend who communicates with me through the messaging feature. We've gotten to know so much about each other, and her support is a blessing. Of course there's Jonathon Blue, who inspires me everyday!!! If you haven't taken the time to check out his blog page, do it. His sight is amazing!! I know I didn't mention everyone I've met and shared comments with. It's too hard to recall everyone's screen name to do that......especially at my age ( ) We are all blessed to have found this site. It's the best out there from what I can tell, and traveling this path with all of you makes it so meaningful, and fun too. hugs, Deb

I had to kick my coffee to the curb too. I was drinking nearly an entire pot (10-12 c.) every day by 11am or so. That was only a little more than 3 of my favorite coffee mug, so to me it didn't seem like much. I started 1 month before my surgery..... I started with an empty canister for my coffee. I put in 12 scoops of my regular coffee and 4 decaf scoops. When that was gone (just under a week) I filled it with 10 regular and 6 decaf. Next time 6 regular and 6 decaf. Then 4 regular and 8 decaf, then 2 and 10, and finally all decaf. Like I said it took just about a month. I only had a slight headache the first couple days, but after that I was fine. I still make coffee everyday. Now that I"m almost 2 weeks post op, I actually allow myself to enjoy at least a half of a regular size coffee cup each morning of decaf before I start all my Protein and such. I just really like the taste of coffee. I've used what I don't drink in the morning and used it in a Protein shake later in the day. Not bad.... Good luck!!

I'm LOL too. Dole makes a Soup that comes in a carton (no can) as part of their Garden Soup collection called "Southwestern Black Bean and Corn". Low Cal, Low Carb, Non Fat, and really tasty. It's a little on the thick side for those of us still a few days away from pureed food, so I actually thinned it with a little lime juice and hot Water. I had about 1/3 C. last night as my dinner. It went down fine and was very satisfying..... Only thing.......GOT GAS!!

@@Ldimples I'm with Jeffrey. Keep on walking, even if it's just from room to room in the house. The first couple days I was home it was so cold here even the dog didn't want to go out. I literally walked from one end of the house by the bedrooms down the hall to the kitchen (it's a straight shot) and counted laps....

@@BigDude Glad everything went smoothly. Nothing like that first night in your own bed. Especially if you took you pain meds so you could sleep a little better. Tomorrow starts a whole new day. And hey, now you have a bunch of groupies....

Ouch!!! I hope you get home quickly so you can sleep in your own bed. hang in there.

ready2B is right. We all have been right where you are today. Once you actually get to the hospital your entire focus will change. I did fine after that first day after my surgery. The pain subsided some and I stopped feeling nauseous. Once I got home I was so much more relaxed and that helped everything seem less overwhelming. I only took my pain meds at night before bed for the first 3 nights. After that I was fine with a couple tylenol. You'll do great. Stick with this bunch and you'll get all kinds of support. Good people.....

Just checking in with you youngsters I had my surgery a week ago yesterday. Everything went ok, but a had a terrible time waking up afterward. I guess my blood pressure took a nose dive during the surgery for some reason, so they had to stop working until they got me more stable and could go on. Otherwise fine. I came home on Friday( surgery Tuesday afternoon). The pain wasn't terrible, but I was told to take the pain meds anyhow for a few days. I struggled to get in my 2-4 oz. of Protein and Fluid each other at first without feeling sick or too full. That got much better after several days. I had my 1 week post op yesterday, had my staples removed and got the thumbs up from my doc. I still have to stay on only Protein drinks and liquids for another week before he'll let me start soft and pureed foods. I'm now able to get in my 60gms. of protein by using the Unhurry powder mixed with about 4 oz. of almond milk. Not bad, and way less to try to get down. Bu only having to drink 4 oz. of something to get the protein down it's much easier to get in my other liquids during the day. I feel pretty good overall, but have to remember not to over do it. Yesterday after the doc, my husband and I decided to go to costco, so I walked more than I have since my surgery. By the time I got home I was totally exhausted and my whole belly area and surgery sites hurt. So.....don't overdo too soon is the word of the day. Hope you are all doing well. Keep me posted.

I take my regular morning pills when I get up in the morning. I then take my multi Vitamin and my Biotin with my first Protein shake(21 gms from Unhurry powder mixed with 4 oz. of light almond milk) I then sip a cup of decaf coffee or tea and keep sipping other Clear liquids until I'm ready for my second Protein shake around noontime. Again 21gms from Unhurry mixed with whatever, and I take one calcium. More liquids during the afternoon and then my dinner protein. I've been using the unflavored protein and mixing it with either broth, tomato Soup for a change of taste. I take my other calcium and my probiotic. Liquids until bedtime, maybe a little sugar free Jello and several sips of an Oh Yeah pre bottled protein shake. Nighttime pills as usual before bed. I get a minimum of 63gms of protein from the Unhurry powder, and maybe another 10gms from sipping a little OhYeah. I have a glass that I know holds 16oz. of Fluid, and a keep track of how many times I fill it with something during the day. I know I need at least 4 of those glasses to get in all my fluid. So far this works. Next week when I start on soft foods I'm sure it'll change some. Any ideas on how to meal plan at that point would be helpful. Please share.

@@ready2B and @@karebearr100,I'm so happy to hear that you're both feeling so great. Keep it up. There's no doubt that all our docs have a different approach whether it's the diet itself or the surgical procedure. I guess it just goes to show all of us that there's different roads to take on this journey. The good thing is that we all are headed in the same direction for the same reason. Now that we've had our surgeries we can begin to focus on our successes and all the clever meal ideas we come up with. This is a great group!! OK, so as for me today..... HAIL TO THE MIRALAX!!!! With the exception of being up several times during the night, I feel so much better today!! It's amazing what a good bm can do for the system. Everything hurts less, no more bloating, and more energy overall. I may go out for a walk in spite of the cold. Only 17 degrees here in Charlotte,NC this morning. We set a new record for low temp this time of year. We rarely see anything below 25 or so all winter as a rule. I hate it.....even though I grew up in the north, and lived a number of years in Chicago. Everyone have a wonderful day!!

@@ready2B Take it easy on yourself kiddo. We're all bound to make mistakes along the way. I would have been all over the pepperjack cheese. I hope that I can still eat spicy things as time goes by. I don't think I could stand not having a little hot and spicy guacamole on a little cup of chili. I can't believe that you were allowed to actually eat something so soon. To be honest with you I don't think I could even try to eat real food yet. Right now everything seems to be unappealing. You must really feel overall great. I still have some pain getting in and out of bed or a chair, and my incision sites are very tender. Just had my staples taken out today. Just take it slow. We don't want you doing any damage to your pouch, or making yourself sick. OK?

I'm LOL Jeffrey, because wasn't it you who said to always be near the bathroom when you pass gas or you might get surprised??????? I started feeling kinda yucky yesterday. Really bloated and miserable. I had my 1 week post op appt. this morning, and my doc said I definitely should have pooped by now. He went on to tell me how serious it can be to not go regularly especially with all the extra protein. He made me stop at the pharmacy on my way home for some Miralax and told me to take a double dose when I got home. I'll be trotting to the can all evening I bet. Otherwise appointment went good. I've lost 21 lbs. since my pre-op appt. which is the weight my guy starts from. He said that if I had pooped like I was supposed to I probably would have lost several more. Next week when I see the nutritionist should reveal a nice loss.

I'm a week post op tomorrow, and I'm still trying to get used to how much to drink and when. I've been using the Unjury protein too. I mix it with 4-5 oz. of the lite almond milk (30 Cal for 8 oz.) and squirt a flavor enhancer into it. No calories, and i bought about 4 different flavors. I mix 3 of those shakes a day and a fourth one in the evening is I'm not feeling overly stuffed. I drink my Protein Shakes over about a 30 min. period. The rest of the time I sip, sip sip Water, tea, crystal light, etc. I feel so stuffed all the time though. I tried the unflavored Unhurry in the Crystal light and didn't like it at all. Is there an unflavored protein and you can add to things that doesn't make it creamy and off tasting? They have premixed drinks that are clear/fruit flavored that have protein in them, so why isn't there a protein we can find to make our own fruity drinks that aren't creamy looking????

I'd find a new endo doc!!!! Obviously this one either had the wrong chart, or doesn't take to the time to pay attention to what his/her patience say to him from visit to visit. Either way, I'd be moving on. Listen to your bari nurse.....

Tomorrow is 1 week since my surgery. I'm feeling pretty good. Still some discomfort across my belly, mostly on the left side, but not too bad. I've only been taking a pain pill before bed. Helps me sleep better. Is everyone else as "full" as I seem to be ALL THE TIME? I'm drinking my 60gms, of Protein in 3 drinks a day (spread out over an hour) They are about 8 oz. because I'm using the lite almond milk with the powdered protein. Then I have a glass that I know holds 20 oz of liquid, so I know I have to drink at least 3 of those a day. I just keep sipping between my "shake" time. I feel constantly stuffed. Is that the case with y'all? Also how much walking or exercise are you doing everyday? I've been trying to walk, but the catch is that if I couldn't walk more than a really short distance before my surgery, it's not like a miracle happened in a week, and now all of a sudden I can walk a mile each day. I'm afraid my "meanie" doctor is going to beat me up tomorrow. This is the same doctor that threatened not to do my surgery if I didn't loose at least 12lbs during by pre-op diet. I'm doing the best I can. As I feel stronger, and I've lost some weight and have the ability to walk further I will. I also plan on re-joining the local athletic center so I can right the bikes and get into the pool. That's so much easier on my knees and ankles. Still haven't pooped....and Jeffrey, no runs yet either. I've got no Fiber. Also, thanks for the advise on the Vitamins. I did get the dissolvable kind. I think he'll let me start my Calcium and other supplements after I see him tomorrow. I see the nutritionist next week when I can start "soft" foods. I need to chew something.

I'm one week post op tomorrow. I'll be interested to see how much I've lost since I started my 2 week liquid diet before my surgery. If it's as much as 25 lbs. I'll be jumping for joy.....well maybe not jumping. I want to chew something too!!!

I just wanted to wish those of you that are having your surgery this week the best of luck. Hang in there, and know that we're all here for you on the other side of the OR door.

I'm so glad to have all of you there.those of you that had surgery a few days before me are such a big help. Today's Saturday and surgery was Tuesday. Afternoon. I do feel better today than yesterday. The walking does help with the gas, and I haven't had anymore nausea. The pain really isnt bad either. I had chicken broth last night which tasted so good. I did learn a lesson about how little my new tummy will hold. I drank a little too much over a really short period of time and was in terrible discomfort. Lesson learned! Is anyone taking their gummy vitamins yet? My doc had me stop all vitamins and supplements until I see him next week. Is that the same for you all?

Came home from the hospital last night. The doctor really thought about keeping me until today, but agreed that I'd rest better in my own bed. Apparently during my surgery I gave them a real scare. It seems my blood pressure took a major nosedive and they had to get me stable before they could finish the surgery. I had a better day yesterday and was keeping down a couple oz. liquid s so they let me come home. Today I've been concentrating on getting 2 oz. Of Water and 2 oz. Of Protein down each hour. So far so good. Tomorrow it's supposed to be 2 and 2 per hour. It's amazing how quick I get uncomfortable if I sip even a little too much at one time. Either way I have to work up to the 60 gms of protein and 60 oz. Of water a day by next Tuesday. How's everyone else doing? I took a shower today and it completely wore me out. Took a 2 hour nap after that. I'm belching and passing a lot of gas, but nothing else. About how long does it take before you poop? Take care buddies and stay in touch.

How is everyone? Had my surgery on Tuesday afternoon. My doc said it took longer than normal. At this point I'm not sure why. Yesterday was rough. Definitely more pain than I expected. I couldn't keep anything down. Los of zophran for the nausea and in bed most of day. I finally was able to get up and walk a little last night. Im feeling a little better today. I'm up in the chair and the nurse said I can start walking more today. I may be able to go home tomorrow. I hope everyone else is doing ok. I'll read through all the other posts later this afternoon.

I'm finally home from having gone to be with my father in lay for a few days. I got him admitted into hospice and made arrangements for him to be moved to a nursing home this week so he can have the comfort care he needs. My time was spent talking to nurses, doctors, social workers and such, and trying to help him cope with everything that's happening to him. It broke my heart to see him in the condition he's in, but I know that his suffering will be over soon. My husband is going up to spend some time with him once I'm home and feeling better (in a couple weeks). I hope he hangs in there till then. To all of you that have had your surgery today I hope everything went well and you're coming along without any difficulties. I have mine tomorrow at noon. I'm very nervous, but I'm ready .... Today has been the worst day of the 2 week diet for sure. I had to drink a bottle of the liquid they make you drink when you have a colonoscopy. I've spend most of the day in the bathroom. Since I've only had liquids and only a very light bit of solid food for 2 weeks by this time tonight I can't believe there's anything else left in me. I'll be in touch..

Here we all are..... lots of buddies. I go in for my surgery tomorrow. You can give those of us that are just going in this week a heads up on how things go for you week by week. Take care and keep on sipping.....

Hey there By now I hope you're resting comfortably after your surgery. I know you'll do great after you get home. My surgery is tomorrow at noon. I'm really nervous and afraid I won't be able to sleep tonight, but I'm looking forward to getting going on this whole adventure. Let us know how you're doing.