An English Sleever's Journey

[Madam Reverie 2,958]

That's amazing! You're amazing! Thank you so much for typing that up. I have often felt that it's a bit doom and gloom on here with regards to hair loss, etc. To be honest, that's one of my biggest fears. It's great that you haven't lost yours - despite having practically 9 days of no nutrition! How did you cope with that? What did the Docs have to say about you not being able to eat or drink anything? I think there's a lot to be said for getting the 'real stuff' in as soon as possible and you are testimony to that. Well done!

As for those recipe suggestions, I am sooooooooo doing those!

Thanks xx

[sanks51 214]

You know, to be honest, I just rested and took each day as it came. I was tired and pale from the lack of nutrition but I actually felt ok.. I wasn't missing food. All my dr was concerned with was me getting in as much Fluid as I was able to... He just said sip and wait and sip and wait... And that's all I did.. I think at first I could only have 30ml every hour but each day I built up more and more. I can't say what makes someone more prone to loosing hair than not.. I did cook my food in coconut oil and mash avocado into my Philly (at first I could only eat a teaspoon).. So basically even on my limited intake I never went low fat, fat free etc. Even my Philly was full fat.. I mean I'm gonna make the most taste wise of the teaspoon I was able to eat.. Same with yoghurt.. Nice organic.. Rachel's or my favourite Tims dairy from waitrose or asda! I think this is one of the reasons I never lost hair. My skin has been beautiful too... Salmon has been my fav fish, and I had it in purée and soft foods.. Cooked in a knob of butter in the oven so it stated moist, soft and juicy! You will just find it all falls together.. My doggie was my trusty friend.. Loving all my left overs!! I've never pushed myself to see how much I can eat either. When I feel full I just stop.. chicken fills me fast, I can eat a bigger quantity of fish and prawns before I'm full and I love my steak-can manage a few slices of that now.... I forgot I had sweet potato mash in my soft food stages and courgettes which I boiled in chicken stock until they all broke up and became mushy.. Now days I don't eat many carbs but I do have sweet potato/butternut and sakata rice crackers.

[Madam Reverie 2,958]

Sounds like you've got it totally right. I'd already made the decision to eat whatever goes down, stays down and has good nutrition in it. So far I've managed natural yoghurt, simple chicken Soup and some jelly. I'm lusting after prawn cocktail though - which is weird. Hope that can constitute as 'mushy'... only 12 days to wait! As for leftovers, I have the human dustbin currently sat next to me. He's loving getting everything I can't eat or can't finish! It won't be affecting his waistline though.. he has the fastest metabolism known to man. The bleeder!

[sanks51 214]

Madam R, how are you feeling today? X

[Madam Reverie 2,958]

Feeling alright, thanks, love. Pleased with the amount of Protein rich Fluid I've managed to get in.. I'm just getting odd hiccups. They don't result in a series of hiccups. Just one, really painful one. Don't know what's causing it and don't know how to stop it. Quite painful and has left my wound site throbbing.. or it feels like throbbing. Any suggestions? x

[sanks51 214]

Feeling alright' date=' thanks, love. Pleased with the amount of Protein rich Fluid I've managed to get in.. I'm just getting odd hiccups. They don't result in a series of hiccups. Just one, really painful one. Don't know what's causing it and don't know how to stop it. Quite painful and has left my wound site throbbing.. or it feels like throbbing. Any suggestions? x[/quote']

WARNING: very FAT double tummy tyre picture!! Glad to hear!! Hiccup could be a bit if air you're taking in with your drinking.. Maybe try smaller sips?? Maybe it's a build up of all the little sips and then one large hiccup to try and clear air or move liquid.. Was left side your big incision? If so.. Just go with it.. Mine nearly killed for two weeks.. Tramadol, diclofenac and paracetamol!! I was killing.. If I show you photos of my tummy you would keel over.. Mine also felt really hot all the time.. Think you're just feeling the trauma as your good hospital prescribed pain killers are wearing off!!

[sanks51 214]

I was meant to pop this picture on to show you my incisions about 3 weeks post op.. No infections they were just really red and hot and throbbing

[Madam Reverie 2,958]

Holy Mother of GOD! You look Sooooo sore! No wonder you were necking all those drugs! What's with all the bruising!?! Why did they have to bruise you so much?! Okay, I'm going to shut up whinging about my painful occasional hiccup. I have nothing to complain about in comparison to that! x

[sanks51 214]

Goodness you've made me giggle!! I should've explained a little more... Bruising was due to heparin injections I had to give myself twice a day for 6 weeks.. I was high risk DVT so that was for that!! Ja, drugs were my trusty mates, and I had pain.. But just one day woke up and it was gone!! It's that internal stitch that pulls.. That's the b***h!! So like I say - my good advice is to chillax!! I think day 3/4 were my absolute worse!!

[Madam Reverie 2,958]

I hate to say it, but I'm pretty good. Just whinging about the hiccup - the evil hiccup! Must say though, that bruising is fierce! May I ask what day you woke up and the pain had disappeared?! I shall note it in my diary and have a party accordingly! x

[sanks51 214]

It was at least 14 days post op.. It was weird, day after day it hurt and then one day, I was like... Ooohhh the pain has gone.. So count at least 14 days before the celebrations begin and that X goes in the diary. I used to walk around holding my tummy to lessen the pain. Hopefully hiccup will go shortly too... You seem so amazingly upbeat and positive-all I wanted to do was sleep zzzzzzz

[Madam Reverie 2,958]

I'm trying to be. Went for a bit of a too long walk to Tesco's this evening. After walking round the shop, I gave up standing at the checkout and went and sat down. The walk home required a 20 minute sitdown outside a pub. Gave the man an opportunity for a pint - but I really shouldn't have walked that far. I came home, flopped on the bed and ate 3/4 of a small pot of ambrosia custard for dinner and it did me wonders! (I'm also surprised I could eat that consistency, too) I'm trying to be upbeat. I know the hardest points for me will be when I try foods that I formerly loved and find out that I can't eat any more. I'm pre-emptively freaking out that I won't be able to eat salad with balsamic dressing and other wonderful things like that. Have there been any foods you used to love that you can now no longer tolerate?

[sanks51 214]

That was an ambitious walk.. Way better than I did!! Don't think I ventured out the house till I was about 10 data post op.. And that was to go to boots so I could stand upon the trusty scale and weigh myself for the first time!! Don't freak out Hun... It's waaaaayyyy to early!! I can eat everything... It just takes a little time.. Tonight I had prawn sautéed with 3 cherry tomatoes, half an avocado, a few olives stuffed with anchovies and... Wait for it... Balsamic vinegar glaze!! It all takes time little by little. I can eat salads, I love a juicy steak (I'm South African and a real carnivore.. Been here for 10 years but not got rid of that!!) I got a bit sick on scrambled eggs but now I eat soft boiled or poached... Bacon can be difficult (just read the bacon thread) but I can still eat it.. One rasher tops!! I haven't tried bread but I couldn't eat it with my band so weaned off that a long time ago!! I drink a coffee a day.. Lost the taste for tea!! chicken breast is difficult (especially if overcooked and dry) but I've always been a thigh girl anyway.. I take the skin off sausages (feed it to dog!) this month I've been able to tolerate grapes again.. When the time comes, just try a bite or two.. See how you feel.. If it makes you unwell, leave it for a couple weeks or so and try again. The only things I absolutely can't tolerate anymore deep fried oily stuff, soya milk, cream (sometimes) ice cream makes me a little nauseous...can't think of anything else at the mo!!

[Madam Reverie 2,958]

This is sounding most promising. Particularly the bit about steaks and sausages... I LOVE THEM BOTH!!!! lol. Another good thing, is that I have a human dustbin beside me, so what I can't eat, I'm sure he's going to love scarfing down! Thanks for making me feel better about the future! x

[A_ReNUDE_me 148]

I'm excited for you...I'm pre op hoping to be sleeved in mid November...wishing you great success in your preop diet phase...one small suggestion I'm trying to get in habit of now is the 30-30 wait. drinking for 30 minutes before eating and waiting 30 minutes after eating to drink. It's hard,but if we can incorporate it in beforehabd it will be second nature by the time we are sleeved. I read once it takes 16 days to form a habit, may as well try forming a good one