17 Days Post Op

[Juanita62]

Hard to believe it's only been 17 days! I've been feeling great, walking (did a 10k last Sunday) and walked up the butte in the middle of town yesterday. One mile up! A little sore today in the backs of my thighs. So exercise won't be an issue for me, never has been. I love walking and working out. This eating thing though....it is a slippery slope for sure. I'm on my third day of pureed foods. I was so excited to "eat"! The first day I had oatmeal for breakfast and egg salad for lunch. Oops, not enough protein. And since we can't drink anything 15 minutes before or 30 minutes after eating, I didn't get all my fluids in. Good lesson, I'll continue to have my protein shake for breakfast. So yesterday I had cottage cheese and pureed peaches for lunch. I had that lump in my throat feeling for a couple of hours, which made me feel like maybe I shouldn't have had the surgery. It is so hard to juggle the eating, the water and the protein. I just feel overwhelmed. I've lost 20 pounds so far, which is great, but I don't want to end up mal-nourished or dehydrated. I'm feeling like I'll never be able to eat again, which I know is silly. I'll just keep trying!! Thanks for listening to me whine! LOL

[MikeMo]

Juanita, it sounds like you're doing wonderfully! Especially the long walk, you've got a lot of us beat this early in the process. Trying to figure out what your stomach will and won't tolerate is a work in progress for everyone, but if you eat slow and don't feel compelled to be a "clean plate" member, it is a lot easier. Probably the biggest challenge for everyone is getting the protein amount in and drinking enough water. I've been using an application on my phone to track things and stay honest, although most of what I do is just reassure myself I've hit my protein target for the day.

Must say I envy you -- Bend has to be a beautiful location to walk around. Hang in there, and enjoy the summer!

[elllie]

Hard to believe it's only been 17 days! I've been feeling great, walking (did a 10k last Sunday) and walked up the butte in the middle of town yesterday. One mile up! A little sore today in the backs of my thighs. So exercise won't be an issue for me, never has been. I love walking and working out. This eating thing though....it is a slippery slope for sure. I'm on my third day of pureed foods. I was so excited to "eat"! The first day I had oatmeal for breakfast and egg salad for lunch. Oops, not enough protein. And since we can't drink anything 15 minutes before or 30 minutes after eating, I didn't get all my fluids in. Good lesson, I'll continue to have my protein shake for breakfast. So yesterday I had cottage cheese and pureed peaches for lunch. I had that lump in my throat feeling for a couple of hours, which made me feel like maybe I shouldn't have had the surgery. It is so hard to juggle the eating, the water and the protein. I just feel overwhelmed. I've lost 20 pounds so far, which is great, but I don't want to end up mal-nourished or dehydrated. I'm feeling like I'll never be able to eat again, which I know is silly. I'll just keep trying!! Thanks for listening to me whine! LOL

HI Juanita, well done, you are doing fantastically, walking losing weight. hang in there. I too sometimes think, why did I have this surgery, as I am still on liquids only, another week and a half to go before I can have pureed food. I am definitely not getting enough protein or fluids in, although i do check my urine to make sure I am not dehydrated. I can only manage 1/2 a glass of a protein shake. I usually have homemade tomato soup for lunch and chicken soup for supper. One of my drinks is my vitamin tablets . Hopefully in a couple of months time we will be eating'normally' again, but just in smaller quantities. I am at a stall now, I have lost 13kg from the 2 week pre op diet till now, for the past week the scale has not moved and as I am eating basically nothing it is so frustrating. keep going and once again well done. x

[Stacey03]

Juanita you are doing so well and those feelings are so so normal. Go you on the exercise, you're doing great! :-)

[Juanita62]

HI Juanita, well done, you are doing fantastically, walking losing weight. hang in there. I too sometimes think, why did I have this surgery, as I am still on liquids only, another week and a half to go before I can have pureed food. I am definitely not getting enough protein or fluids in, although i do check my urine to make sure I am not dehydrated. I can only manage 1/2 a glass of a protein shake. I usually have homemade tomato soup for lunch and chicken soup for supper. One of my drinks is my vitamin tablets . Hopefully in a couple of months time we will be eating'normally' again, but just in smaller quantities. I am at a stall now, I have lost 13kg from the 2 week pre op diet till now, for the past week the scale has not moved and as I am eating basically nothing it is so frustrating. keep going and once again well done. x

Thanks elllie....you were the one who inspired me to get outside and start walking again!! we will do this!!!

[Juanita62]

Juanita you are doing so well and those feelings are so so normal. Go you on the exercise, you're doing great! :-)

Thanks Stacey.....I hope that I'll be as successful as you. You are one of the people on this forum who has motivated me from the start!!

[Twodogfox]

Hi Juanita and Ellie, my April 10th sisters. It is hard at times and I think still being on liquids isn't necessary but all docs are different. My instructions say to always have one shake a day. I've been having that canned chicken spread as its already blended. Also canned salmon, it has a lot of liquid and I chew it a lot. I put Genepro protein powder in Jello for extra protein. I also put it in some cream of chicken soup yesterday. Its flavorless. I have some avocado with meals, about 1/8 of one. On days when I exercise more I do get an empty feeling inside which I take as a hunger or out of fuel. I struggle with how much is too much exercise, as we really are hardly consuming enough calories for our bodies to function at this point. I do feel good though, have lost 15" and 24lbs. Most of the time I don't think about food much but once in a while I crave a salad. I'd like to eat more pure foods without the additives and salt. I'm on the soft mushies diet through week four. I see the surgeon again on May 15th for the one month. Lets keep on keepin' on ladies. I think we've passed the worst of it. The anticipation, the surgery, the healing. Now its the results, as slow or fast or halting they may come.

[sraebaer]

Sounds like you're doing well. It's a little hard to get the protein in at the mushy food stage. I would skip the oatmeal and try eggs or low-fat greek yogurt. I know I had a list of foods at each stage, but can't remember what else was on for soft foods. Shakes are good too. I know this sounds weird, but you need to make this eating part fun. Each week when I could add new foods I'd shop the day before for what I could add. I kept a real positive attitude, which really helped.

Good job with the walking, thats wonderful!

[Juanita62]

Hi Juanita and Ellie, my April 10th sisters. It is hard at times and I think still being on liquids isn't necessary but all docs are different. My instructions say to always have one shake a day. I've been having that canned chicken spread as its already blended. Also canned salmon, it has a lot of liquid and I chew it a lot. I put Genepro protein powder in Jello for extra protein. I also put it in some cream of chicken soup yesterday. Its flavorless. I have some avocado with meals, about 1/8 of one. On days when I exercise more I do get an empty feeling inside which I take as a hunger or out of fuel. I struggle with how much is too much exercise, as we really are hardly consuming enough calories for our bodies to function at this point. I do feel good though, have lost 15" and 24lbs. Most of the time I don't think about food much but once in a while I crave a salad. I'd like to eat more pure foods without the additives and salt. I'm on the soft mushies diet through week four. I see the surgeon again on May 15th for the one month. Lets keep on keepin' on ladies. I think we've passed the worst of it. The anticipation, the surgery, the healing. Now its the results, as slow or fast or halting they may come.

Thanks for the encouragement and suggestions......I just have moments of weakness, but I want this to work so I pull up my big girl panties and move on. I'm so thankful for this forum and all the wonderful people here. You are doing awesome

[Juanita62]

Sounds like you're doing well. It's a little hard to get the protein in at the mushy food stage. I would skip the oatmeal and try eggs or low-fat greek yogurt. I know I had a list of foods at each stage, but can't remember what else was on for soft foods. Shakes are good too. I know this sounds weird, but you need to make this eating part fun. Each week when I could add new foods I'd shop the day before for what I could add. I kept a real positive attitude, which really helped.

Good job with the walking, thats wonderful!

Thanks sraeber....I'm going to try to make "spaghetti" with my new spiralizer this week and see if I can make "tacos" with seasoned ground beef and avocado

[Christie13]

While you can end up malnourished or dehydrated, the majority of people don't. If you are eating healthy foods and getting a decent amount of fluids in (remember your shakes count towards your fluid goals) you will be fine. Just make sure you take your vitamins. It was literally months for me before I was hitting both fluids and protein goals regularly. And I have not had any health issues whatsoever. I did not eat things like oatmeal in the beginning because all my foods were focused on protein...then veggies. (Although I have found a lovely brand called Think Thin that has a delicious high protein oatmeal.) I did not add fruits back into my diet until around 9 months due to natural sugars and the need for protein and veggies. That was me, though. You have some discomfort in the beginning but soon it will be a distant memory and you won't have regrets. Remember....eat slow....and learn your full cues.

[KiwiGal]

You sound as though you are doing just fine. 8 months out I'm still having a protein shake for breakfast as it just helps me get my protein in for the day.
Also it's really easy to have a work. I start work early and eat about an hour after I start.
Hang in there. It will get easier.