lisafrommassachusetts

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.

I brought: a robe (glad I did), change of clothes including yoga pants and a comfy sweater to wear home, face cream, my own toothbrush and toothpaste, my phone, chargers and earphones, which I used when I was trying to sleep (hospitals aren't very quiet, also the music helped me stop thinking and overthinking), some dry shampoo and my hairbrush, eye mask (did not end up using), my e-reader and some magazines.

Yes. I had my surgery the Monday before you; I also weighed more and looked huge; I am now down about 6 pounds from my weight the day of surgery. I had some trouble getting the bowels going, and had to take Miralax, but once that started and I kept drinking the clear fluids the weight has started to drop off.

I actually had to have my surgery postponed from Feb. 3 to Feb. 10 because I had a pretty bad cold which was probably the flu. I was sooooo disappointed, but in retrospect between the fever, chills, body aches and constant runny nose/sneezing, recovery would have been miserable. The week went by pretty quickly; because I was pretty sick I had an easier time with the pre-op diet (which extended for that week, although they had me eat on 2/3 to get some calories in), and I was down a full 10 pounds by surgery day. I hope you don't have to postpone, but if you really aren't feeling well it might be the best thing.

@MorganF way to go!!

The week will go by fast! How is your pre-op diet going?

Good luck! You've got this. And you are indeed on your way!

I hear you! My (adult) children and husband will suggest I have some, ahem, control issues....and there is no feeling in the world where you are less in control than being wheeled into an OR to be rendered unconscious! Everything will be fine! And if you forgot anything, that's when friends, family, neighbors or good old Amazon come in handy.

Good luck! I don't know if there are people who go into surgery without being nervous, but I've never met any. I am 8 days out, and I feel really good! I think you are going to be surprised at how quickly you start to feel better. And between what I lost during the pre-op diet (lengthened by the flu) and since the surgery (about 15 pounds, nearly 10 of which were pre-op) I already have less knee pain, and an easier time going up and to a lesser extent down the stairs. You will be able to enjoy your kids so much more. I can't wait to hear how you are doing!!!

You look great.

Wow! Great job!

Good luck! Sounds like you have a great plan.

Going off coffee could be part of it...or just the pre-op diet. Good luck!

Good to hear all is going well. How are you adjusting top the post OP diet?

What a great way to frame this! I read somewhere once that it is only the first few bites we really enjoy, anyway. I'm going to incorporate this into my "head work."

I did use my robe to walk around the hospital. I bought a new one as a little lift me up before surgery, it is bright and fluffy and has a tie, so I figure I can wear it for a long time. Otherwise, I was in a hospital gown and the non-skid socks they give you. I brought an extra large shirt and yoga pants to wear home.

I'm one day ahead of you! I have a hard time with the protein shakes, too. I can't stand that fake sugar taste, which also makes the protein water unbearable to me. I have gotten Iconic Protein shakes, they use stevia and monk fruit so are less chemically tasting to me. downside, you have to drink a lot more to get the 20G. You can get them on Amazon, but order a 4 pack so you aren't stuck with them if you can't stand them. I have also gotten some of the Premier shakes; they are really, really sweet, but there are 30g in like 10oz. I have been heating the Iconic Chocolate truffle as a hot chocolate and then adding 2 oz of the Premier Caramel. I can tolerate that so today I am going to add 3 oz. Also, I have frozen to a mushy stage both the caramel and the banana and cream, and eaten it as an "ice cream". I am also totally dependent upon Swanson Organic Chicken Bone Broth. There are 9 g of protein in the sip and go cups; I treat that as my "lunch", or "dinner" and then have the protein shake as a "dessert". The broth is also a hydrating liquid, so you count if for both protein and clear liquid. Once I stopped trying to drink the whole shake and broke it up across the day that helped, too. I have to have the shakes either very, very cold or warm. I also have protein water which I bought (it is Ready protein water). I can't really stand it. I have been putting 2 oz. of the lemon in plain water, and that is not too bad, and gives you a few g's of protein, plus you're hydrating. I have ordered some plastic ice pop molds; they should be here today. They are slightly less than 4 0z. I intend to mix 1/2 of the protein water with regular water and freeze; perhaps that will be more tolerable. I have been eating the sugar free popsicles like crazy, and they have that chemical taste, so maybe if I freeze the protein water it will help. Sorry for the long ramble! I spend all day thinking about this, and it is starting to show! Good luck!

So encouraging to hear. I am only a week out, so I'm so curious about what is coming. Do you find you just naturally are stopping at about a cup of food? Also, did your doctor's office tell you to weigh every day? Congratulations and good luck!

One week after surgery! This has been one LOOONG week. It seems much longer ago I was checking into the hospital. But I am pain-free, and so much stronger than I expected to be! One day at a time.

How is it going so far? I assume your in the midst of fluids only. So far so good?

Hello. I had the surgery last Monday. I was discharged Tues. I have not taken any narcotics since the recovery room. I had Tylenol IV and some Motrin IV; went home on just Tylenol. The 3rd day pre-op was the worst for me (Thurs.) I was having trouble getting the liquids in, and finally was told by the nutritionist to stop trying for protein and just hydrate, it made ALL the difference. Gas pain was relieved by walking, walking, walking. I am not taking anything for pain now, because I really have no pain. So I also have not had that post op dopiness from having to take pain medication. I have been working a bit. As long as you can take frequent breaks to walk around, and keep sipping, sipping sipping it is doable, and I actually found it helpfully distracting. TV shows and/or movies are ok, but they are only amusing for so long. I also found my stomach really rumbling, and it felt like hunger. It has dramatically abated, I am not hungry like that anymore. I am sure it was part head hunger, part gas, and part that you still have hunger hormones and a very empty stomach. Anyway, for me day 3 it was hard, and watching people on tv eat made it worse. Also, until I got rehydrated, I was nauseous. Good luck! For me, so far, it has been much less painful than I imagined.

I've been freezing about a cup of protein shake and having that as "ice cream". The Premier caramel is really, really sweet so I can only tolerate about a cup; I have also frozen Iconic Chocolate Truffle, and Premier Bananas and Cream. Also, I've been heating the Chocolate Truffle as hot chocolate, and to get a bit more protein added 2 oz of the Premier Caramel. It's no Snickers bar, but it is definitely sweet!

Thank you!

Best of luck! What a lot of work you have already done! Congratulations.

I was told to chop the Tylenol pills into pieces, but not crush because it would taste really bad. They gave me a little pill guillotine to do that with. I had those gurgly feelings, too. And some discomfort, but it was controllable with Tylenol. The nurse told me walking around while sipping on the water, or even just standing up would help. It did pass for me in a couple of days.