I Survived The Last 7 Weeks After Surgery
by
, 05-13-2017 at 01:06 PM (2482 Views)
I got to say, this has been so much harder than I imagined. Everyone is different from each other and I am in awe of the folks who say, after surgery, how it's "been so easy to drink water" and "I had No problem eating".
My pre op weight loss was a cake walk compared to this. I am not complaining about how much I have lost in such a short amount of time: 72 pounds down, 30 inches GONE, BMI is 29.3 down from 40.3, going from a 22 jeans to 8/10 size in shorts, 2x and 3x in tops, now down to Large.... that's wonderful. I have just been able to drink 42.5 oz of water YESTERDAY, where as up till the day before I could only get in 'maybe' 16 oz on any given day. Just like that. Now I hope my eating can pick up (God I never thought I'd be saying those words!).
I am not hungry, I really have not been hungry since surgery. But I DO KNOW I need to get in protein, other than a dang shake. I had been drinking 2 of those a day up until the last couple days... I can't drink 2 anymore, they feel heavy. I see people on here who have had surgery "2 weeks ago; 3 weeks ago" and I see what they are eating (not only the AMOUNTS but the actual foods) and am shocked. Since my week 3 post op I have been on pureed foods which let me tell you, isn't easy for me. I can NOT eat pureed meat (beef, chicken, pork or FISH. Tuna, is my pureed fish). I have been eating 1-2 tbsp. per meal FOR nearly 5 weeks now... and I am stuffed, sick, or hacking up foam. My nutrtionist said to not 'cheat and skip a step' , stay the course, and I have... sort of. I did try some semi pureed chicken the other day, just a bite and I mean a SMALL bite, and I had instant barfing. I can eat grilled tilapia (one bite and throw the rest out... it's too much and they are 3 oz pieces.) I ate one of my homemade meatballs that were so tender they were considered pureed and it went down fine. I tried it the next day with a 1/2 of a 1/2 slice of soft wheat bread and it was as if I had swallowed nails. Barfing commenced and that was after 1 tbs? My surgeon said I am fine, I am only to eat what's on the list. I am.
After that debacle on Thursday I was SO sorry I went through with the surgery. I can't believe I am saying this out loud because I haven't even told my husband. It's not that I am missing food, or eating like my previous life... far from it, but I kept thinking if THIS is it, only having soups, or 1 bite of tilapia or one meatball without having to barf my guts up.... this is so NOT worth it.
But that was THURSDAY. I woke up losing another 2 pounds overnight and looked in the mirror and said "OMG, look at you!" No more high blood pressure meds, no more cholesterol pills, no need now to begin the type 2 diabetes meds I was SUPPOSED to start in December, I don't need my sleep apnea machine anymore- yet I cling to it like grim death-, and I have NO more aches and pains in my arms and legs. (Granted, I am on Plaquenil, and leflunomide (Arava) for rheumatoid arthritis and I know that helped in my hands and fingers and elbows and shoulders.... BUT, my hips and low back are pain free.)
I am NOT sorry I had the surgery, and do not regret it at all. I have just been frustrated with the fact that I can't eat what I thought I could eat, what is on my approved list from my NUT. And I now know that what some of these other people out here eat at their early stages, may not be something I should be eating even now, 7 weeks out.
So, bottom line.... if I have to keep eating my cream of broccoli soups, and my 1 scrambled egg, and a bite of Tilapia for a little longer, so be it. I had high hopes of next Friday, my 8 weeks post op date being one where I could have a piece of tender, moist chicken and steamed, soft broccoli for dinner but I am not holding my breath. That day will come.