Globetrotter

Alas, walking round the shops for me would require full body armor and a protective detail so that's out. Also it is 125 degrees on a daily basis so the walking bit is also out unless it is in the air conditioned gym. Perhaps though I can keep a set of tension bands or dumbells at my desk and do quick reps every so often ...

My acid comes regardless, as soon as something gets swallowed an acid attack at the base of my throat follows. It can be tea, cold water, tepid water, protein shake, broth, very painful acid attack follows. I take the anti-spasm pill the doc gave me plus a tagamet and it seems to help. Does this ever go away? scary.

Eloquently put, have you seen Food Inc.?

Janester, yes I am concerned about the sitting-at-desk dillemma; I am in the office 12 hours a day and unless I come into the office at the crack of dawn it will be difficult to squeeze in time for a workout. Sitting at that desk will not be conducive to reaching goal or for toning the muscles. Hrmm.

I get hiccups regardless of eating or not. I am 2 weeks post op and I get painful hiccups randomly, whether I am sipping a liquid, eating a mushy, or doing nothing at all.

Jane, so what was the client's reaction?

These are all interesting suggestions but ... I just started mushy softs and frankly, the idea of eating "food" is terrifing for me right now, I don't know why. I guess I just feel "safe" with the soups and protein shakes and powders. Maybe eating real food reminds me of when I used to eat food in my former life and maybe it's a subconcious fear of returning to bad habits ... besides, I'm having awful acid/spasm pains these days, they come on the same time every afternoon regardless of it I've eaten or not.

I remember before I had surgery everyone here saying that you go through a period of slight diarrhea after surgery followed by a period of constipation. Well, everyond was correct! So now what do I do with the constipation? I basically only go #2 every 3 days and I am painfully backed up, I can feel the trapped um, matter, in my lower intestines causing painful bloat. What to do? Afraid to take MoM with tender new tummy.

ARGH, thanks guys but, any way you slice it (ha ha) I just shouldn't eat a tomato for another couple of weeks. Problem is, by then I will be out of the country and by the time I come back I will have missed the heirloom tomato season. =( I've tried to introduce: split pea soup, a taste of clam chowder, french onion soup, a scrambled egg, and now the ricotta bake. Am I on the right track for mushies/softs? Any more ideas for that category?

Thanks everybody, I was so thrilled in the surgeon's office. He had a rather pleased smile on his face too and when I mentioned that I couldn't begin to make it to his low calorie daily goal for me (600) he nodded his head approvingly saying, "I make those sleeves pretty tight". My energy is definitely dependent on whether I hit my protein goal however, very noticeable. I've moved from fulls to softs and although I did so with the nut's blessing, I think I'm going to go back to fulls, as I am having painful spasm/acid episodes when I swallow, not a happy feeling. So I weighed in the surg's office at 12 days out. The next time I have access to a scale won't be till maybe Aug 10, exactly two weeks after the first scale experience. I don't want to get complacent and assume it will always be that awesome, dilligence dilligence dilligence!! =) (But still ... 20 pounds?!?!!) :tongue_smilie:

I really really REALLY want an heirloom tomato. If I pick out all the seeds and cut it up, can it be considered a soft food? PLEASE?!

Except, this isn't just happening now that I'm on mushy/soft food. It's ben happening since I went on full liquids; strained soups, tomato soup, etc. My first soft food was french onion soup, my second was a scrambled egg and I only ate half. The spasms seem to come on strongest in the afternoon.

So I went to my surgeon for a 2 wk check up because I won't be available at the 3rd wk mark and really it was 12 days. I was weighed and discovered ... that I had lost 20 pounds!!!! 20 pounds!!!! In 12 days!! The last time I lost 20 pounds it took 4 months! I'm excited!

Ouchie people!! Now that I am on full liquids/mushies/soft foods, I am having horrible spasms and my medication which melts under the tongue doesn't seem to be doing anything, help!

Would I be able to incorporate some unflavored protein powder before I bake it? Would the powders bake well? Because it's only about 5 grams protein per serving this way and if I add the powder I could get 10 grams per serving.

I don't remember much of anything from the first 3 days post-op.

I know what you mean Sunshine. I'm barely moving from clears to full liquids and I had the same emotion. My surgeon wants me to take in 600 cals a day and now that I'm experimenting with fulls I'm able to get past 400 for the first time since surgery. Just getting close to 600 brought up all kinds of fat-girl-who-never-lost-alot-of-weight anxieties and issues. I mean, that's nuts - 600 calories isn't enough to keep a gerbil alive so there was no need for anxiety but, there it was. You didn't fall off any horse of any kind, you ate as prescribed - so did I, we have to remember that it is O - K. :tongue_smilie:

Hi all, I am 12 days out and something I have noticed since shortly after the surgery is that my heart is always beating really quickly, even at rest. I've always has a slow steady measured beat and now it's like a mouse's. If I do something remotely taxing, like lift a not-at-all-heavy bag into the car, my heartbeat takes off like I'm running a race. It's kinda freaking me out. Comments?

See, that's what I was afraid of. I'm averaging more than 40 carbs a day, even as I struggle with meeting quota for liquids and Protein. I sip continuously from 9AM to 9PM and STILL do not manage to make quota. I'm 12 days out.

Well I've moved on to half-n-half, clears and fulls. I've quasi-solved the issues of the a$$ powders: russian goat yogurt. At 11g's of protein and only 4 carbs for a 6 oz serving it is great on its own, because of the sharp sour strong taste I can't taste anything put into it. So that, plus some tomato soup, plus a scoop of "unflavored" protein and I've got a 14 oz drinkable with 39g's of protein and it's delish! There are many reasons why I can't wait for solids and among those reasons is the belief - I hope not a false one- that it will be easier to get to protein goal on a daily basis. JudyM - Have you tried really really sharp flavored cheeses and yogurts to satisfy your craving? Some seriously stinky cheese or some goat yogurt might do the trick.

If you have access to a Whole Foods or something like it there is no need to have only tomato and potato as your thick liquid soup options. Today I came home with butternut squash, tomato basil, spicy black bean, and french onion with the onions strained out. Can you tell I'm tired of broth? =)

Into my second week post-op, am still on protein shakes and broths but am also adding thicker smooth soups like tomato soup. What is the optimum carb count during this phase? I try to select the lowest carb soups possible but the are still present.

The brand for my protein powders from the surgeon is Healthwise; 15g's protein and the beef boullion is pretty good, especially when mixed like I said with french onion and liquid beef broth.

I'll assume you meant the soup was heavenly, and not the pipes moving! ROTFLMAO!! :cool0:

from my surgeon, he sent me home with a variety pack of protein powders; beef boullion, chicken boullion, raspberry iced tea, hot cocoa, and they all have 15g's of protein.