kyotosong

dr insists my post-op liquid diet is only Water, clear broth & sugar free Jello (no juices). i asked about regular jello (w/sugar in it) and they said no. no reason, just no. i ask only because i can't handle artificial sweeteners - all of them. i get killer migraines from them and i've already had 2 since sunday. so basically, i'm limited to water & broth (i get an msg free/nearly free kind, though, because msg is also a migraine trigger for me). woo? so am i limited to the sugar free kind just because of the calories or will the sugar interfere with healing?

that's cool. my surgeon's program actually has patients starting soft Proteins on day 4 (surgery day is day 1). so the liquid thing is only for 3 days. they do this because they know the band doesn't work if you're not eating actual food. i have my post-op follow up w/him next week. so tomorrow, i get to eat some real food! i'm not sure what, yet, but i'm excited. i'm feeling kind of hungry for the first time today and the chicken broth was pretty good (couldn't "eat" it all yesterday). i've just been grouchy/complainy about the Clear Liquids thing... i just hope the gaseousness gets better, not worse, when i start to really eat.

thank you :biggrin: and yes, i did, and the nurses too, they were unfailing in their sugar-free policy. just said, well, you'll just have to stick with the broth, then. one nurse said, "it's all glorified Water, anyway" - trying to make the point that they just want me to have water the first few days. what makes me wonder about that sugar free jello stuff is that they are pretty anti-artificial sweeteners for the program (lots of people that come in for surgery feel they can't live without their diet drinks, for example). they said the artificial sweeteners can cause people to actually crave sweets (based on some studies they didn't cite). i don't have any problems with that because i am not a fan of the chemical nature of the sweeteners and i feel the migraines i have are a natural reaction - my body saying, HEY! what they heck kind of crap are you eating/drinking?! i'm hoping the band can help me towards eating a more natural, chemical/additive free diet - ie little to no more processed foods. i hope with the physical restriction, it will be easier. because otherwise...well i'm sure plenty of you understand the draw of the convenience, price and taste of the processed foods! anyway, more griping on my part. i'm grouchy and sore. and BORED OUT OF MY MIND. staring at a computer screen is hurting my head, too, so it's adding to the aggravation. but, i get to shower today. yay! :sad:

so they're just trying to be calorie/sugar nazis? = i have all fruit popsicles and juices that would be nice/refreshing to have, in addition to the broth and Water i'm having (mostly just water, really). sure, i could have caffeine free tea, too, but i hate all teas (tea tastes like dirt water, imo. i know a lot of people like it but eh, no thanks). yes, i'm difficult. i'm just aggravated with the migraines and just the water. i'm actually not hungry. my head is killing me (again, yay), and i'm thirsty but can't drink like my body needs me to, now. fyi, no issues with diabetes, cholesterol, high bp or any of that, pre-surgery.

I am getting my surgery with Dr. Sprunger tomorrow morning. I like Scottsdale Bariatric but have had some stumbling blocks with communication in the office. I don't think that negates their program or anything to that effect, just frustrating for me. Also, if you are going through insurance, and yours doesn't cover all (like I'm on a 90/10 PPO plan), Scottsdale Healthcare (the hospital) will want their "estimated" portion not covered by insurance to be paid in advance. They told me it would be around $1600. Ouch! Scottsdale Bariatric is a designated Bariatric Center of Excellence and also, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is working with them (and only them, i think) on a research study. I wanted to participate in their study but I had a short window to my surgery date and could not miss any more work than I already am. I will update with my experience after surgery tomorrow, if you're interested. You should attend one of their seminars.

thank you both for your replies. i had called my dr through the office emergency service (twice) but it took him hours to call back. it wasn't a headache from nerves, it was an evil bastard of a migraine (nausea, sensitivity to light, sound, the works). neither tylenol or advil work for these kinds of headaches. i thought i was out of zomig but i found some! i was so desperate, i took one and thankfully, when the dr finally called back, he said it was okay. *whew* it didn't take it away completely but most of it is gone and i can function. thank goodness. :thumbup: