lisafrommassachusetts

Sounds like you had a very good surgeon!

Good to hear you are home! And that there is no leak. I hope you get plenty of rest, hydrate, and some steps in. I am still feeling tired with very little activity! (surgery was the 10th). I guess it can take a few weeks to get the anesthesia out of your system. I've been trying to up my steps, I was doing between 8 and 10K before my surgery. Twice I have gone over 8K, and I was completely wiped out right into the next day. Yesterday I drove to the hospital for a nutritionist app't (3 hours round trip), and I was completely wiped out! You had the additional surgery, so give yourself some time. I was the one who asked for the sugar free liquid Tylenol, but I am not on pain meds anymore. I have to remind myself that I have just had major surgery, and I have plenty of time to build up my walking once I am feeling a little stronger. Today I took it very, very easy; My daughter and her husband had come up Thursday to visit and we hung out and a couple of other family members stopped by; I have gotten very few steps but I am feeling pretty good. Now the family is gone and I am just sipping some herbal tea and remembering to be grateful.

Apparently some people have been allowed to have plain greek yoghurt watered down. Check with your surgeon.

I have been pretty lucky, in that I got very few unsolicited opinions. I would practice saying something along the lines of "thank you so much for your concern! I have made this decision after consulting with my doctors, and doing my own research. I am looking forward to being healthier." If they persist, you are going to have to bear down and say "I understand what you are saying, but I do not want to discuss my healthcare decisions." Then change the subject. Repeat as many times as necessary.

I can have refried beans now, after 10 days out. I cannot have cheese until I am 20 days out.

I was stiff and a bit sore every time I stood up for the first week or so. But you had bigger surgery than I did! Give yourself time.

Apparently very common. I had my first post-op with the nutritionist yesterday in a group, and one of the women in my group said the same thing. The nutritionist said it is common, your body is still adjusting to the major shock of surgery, you may be retaining fluids, you may be swollen, and everyone is different. She said she wished people would stay off the scale for the first few weeks, but she knows everyone is curious. She stressed hydration, and making sure we are hitting protein goals, and if your bowels aren't working add some Miralax. However, understanding it's "normal" and going through all this and gaining weight has got to be a downer. Hang in there, the scale will move!

Hope the gas pain is less! Are you home yet? The first few days were the hardest for me. Rest, walk and hydrate!

Glad to hear you're mostly pain free! Rest, hydrate, and let the professionals take care of you!

Good luck! I'm rooting for you. Post when you can!

Oh I'll have to get some. I too have been a huge seltzer drinker.

My hospital protein drinks were sickeningly sweet! Good luck!

I tried, but I find the taste unappealing. I don't like the taste of artificial sweeteners usually. Although I do like the sugar free popsicles. I've tried adding a splash of lemon juice, but it's a bit sour. I have a cup or 2 of herbal teas a day. I'm wondering if cucumber mint water might be a good choice? I'm very open to ideas

So glad to hear you're doing well! Keep us posted!!

The first couple of days were tough. The biggest mistake I've made so far is letting myself get dehydrated. Once I got rehydrated, things improved. I'm so sick of plain water, though.

I know exactly what you mean about getting past this and being able to eat normally and reasonably. But we need our stomachs to heal!

Thanks for the benefit of your experience! I feel like managing my expectations in most things aids my peace of mind, and this maybe more so.

Had my first "food". I had 2 tablespoons of egg beaters, scrambled. With a teeny pinch of lemon pepper. I took 15 minutes to eat it, mindfully, chewing. Now my stomach is singing...growling...not sure what to call it. No pain, and I did not feel "full" per se (2 TBL is equivalent to 2/3rds of an egg white.) I set my alarm for 30 minutes so I can go back to drinking clear liquids. I am obviously going to need some protein drinks today to meet my protein goals. I am not doing a good job of separating my day into meals. I will see how today goes and try to set up a six "eating event" schedule tomorrow. This is a lot of work! lol. I am glad I have one more week off from my real job, just to try to get myself into a bit of a rhythm with all of this. Hope everyone out there is doing well! Love reading people's updates.

Wow! How overwhelming this must all be. No wonder you describe yourself as exhausted. Good luck as you move forward.

Perhaps my expectations are low, but I think 11 pounds in 2 weeks is quite a lot! Plus you came back from surgery full of fluid, so you had to get back to the starting point. I was sleeved on 2/10 and I have lost only 6 and a half pounds since my surgery weight, and that seems ok to me.

How exciting and wonderful. I love that you are experiencing this so fully, the joy will maybe help carry you through the rough patches a little easier. What an inspiration!

Glad you are home and doing ok! The first few days are rough, and I did not have the extra shock of hernia repair. I can't imagine going to the gym after surgery, lol. My worst day was the Thursday after my Monday surgery; I think it was because I was not hydrated. As they say, water and clear liquids before you worry about protein! The drinking really does get easier as the days go on. Good luck, sip, sip, sip, walk, walk, sip....and keep us posted!

It's so odd how different everyone's pre and post op diets are. I have to say the post op clear liquids and protein shakes was mostly much easier for me than the far less restrictive pre-op; the loss of hunger hormones is real! I also must say Chicken Bone Broth has been my new best friend. I hope I don't have so much of it I can't enjoy it after I get through this. I can see using this to up my protein on a very regular basis. Good luck! Keep us posted!

Good luck! I was nervous too. My surgery was delayed a week because I had the flu so my anxiety was really high. You got this! Can't wait to start reading your reports of post-op life.

9 days post op! I start "smooth" foods tomorrow and my vitamins. My hospital divides the 3rd stage in 2; 3A is egg whites, cottage cheese, ricotta, tofu, refried beans for protein, and soft bananas, cream of wheat, canned in own juice peaches or pears, sugar free pudding. I do that for 10 days. Then I add in more foods for 20 days (e.g. whole eggs, soft fish, etc.) I am strangely kind of nervous! I am afraid once I get to eat real food I'll overeat. I am sure this is nonsensical, but it's funny how the mind works. I had a stressful work related call today, and found myself, phone in hand, heading toward my kitchen thinking about crackers. It was one of those "AHA" moments. I have a feeling I have many more coming.... On the upside I feel really good! I got 8000 steps in yesterday, and all in all I'm feeling good. I seem to be able to drink my glass of water more quickly, and it does not feel like a full-time job getting myself hydrated. I have been able to get over 65g of protein; the bone broth really, really helps. So we'll see what tomorrow brings.