prairiedawn

I had it BAD all around my incision sites! Started 10 days post op and lasted almost 22 days!! it was SOOOOOO itchy then finally went away. I applied cortisone cream and it barely helped but ice helped (weird) but dealt with it until it subsided on its own. Doc said I may have had a reaction to the steristrip adhesive........ Hope it subsides quickly!

AWESOME! Congrats!! :)

I was supposed to do the levenox injections for 2 weeks post op. After day 5 i was in so much pain doing them and I kept getting big bruises on the injection site. My doc said ok to stop so I was thrilled..... Supposed to prevent blood clots so better be safe than sorry! Dawn

The less fat the better but I can't drink regular milk now, not even skim. I now drink the non fat lactaid which is really good but a little sweet. You can try Skim plus which is so amazing. Can't even tell it is skim milk. I don't drink chocolate milk for fear of the sugar and have tried the Hershey sugar free syrup (yuck) instead to get my choc fix I drink a Protein shake. GNC wheybolic extreme is really good. it has 60g of protein in a 20oz container. I try and spit it over the course of the day for Snacks or save the remainder for each day dumping it if i am not finished by day 3. Good luck! Dawn

Here are some ideas of what I ate during mushy phase: Breakfast: Cream of wheat (high Protein packets) added 1/4 cup of nonfat dried milk powder cinnamon and 1/2 packet of Splenda OR scrambled egg (w/out milk) and lowfat cheddar cheese or egg beaters w/low fat cheddar Lunch: Tuna, chicken or egg salad in food processor with light mayo I would add a little bit of Frank's hot sauce to "spice" things up 1/4 cup of V8 juice but usually never finished it Dinner: Refried Beans with lowfat cheddar cheese and Frank's hot sauce or ricotta cheese, a little tomato sauce (low sodium) and lowfat mozz cheese Snacks: high protein sugar free/fat free pudding. I added 1 scoop of high protein whey powder and used lactaid nonfat milk. YUMMO also greek nonfat plain yogurt with a 1/2 packet of splenda & cinnamon. I usually have 4-5 oz of a Protein shake @ 10am and again @ 3pm I tried to limit my carbs as much as possible but everyone is different. Enjoy this phase of food. The liquid stage was SOOOOO hard All the best on your journey! Dawn

THANKS !!!! Appreciate the great ideas!!

It really does get better everyday!! Truly! I am one month today and I feel so much better than my second day home from the hospital. The gas and discomfort (pressure) were very bad for the 1st week but after that it started to feel much better. Stay positive and each day you will see gets better than the next. Sending big hugs!!! Dawn

I am usually looking forward to a trip away from the house especially when it is a trip to the beach (minus getting into a suit....lol) I am clueless as what to bring to the beach to eat & snack on.........I know plenty of fluids but anyone have any suggestions for beach friendly foods? I was put on stage 3 today - soft mood so I am out of the pureed phase but the food seems almost similiar....... Any ideas would be great! As always thanks for posting! Dawn

CONGRATS to you!! Amazing!!

All the ideas everyone has posted have been great. I would add Sugar Free/ Fat Free instant pudding (I make a small box) and I add a scoop of unflavored why Protein to make it a high protein snack and it lasts me a long time..... Skim milk (I have to drink Lactaid fat free now.....) hummus crystal light (if you like it) i add a scoop of unflavored protein to it sometimes If I think of more, I will add. Dawn

Here's my today: (still on pureed foods/soft) I am hoping that will change today........ B: 1 large scrambled egg with a pinch of cheddar cheese S; 1/2 GNC wheybolic Xtreme Protein shake (choc) L: chick salad - chicken breast pureed with light mayo, baby spinach 4 tiny Special K multigrain crackers (I can usually eat 3-4 tsps of the chick salad S; light mozz string cheese (can usually eat 1/2) D: Not sure yet......... I am down 27 lbs in exactly 1 month and 1 day since surgery so not sure if that is good or not but I usually average 650 - 810 calories a day since pureed stage. Dawn

THANKS guys!!! appreciate it. Out to the grocery store in 15 mins ! :) Dawn

Looking for some low carb whole grain crackers. Anyone recommend any? Low in sugar and high in Fiber. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks! Dawn

WOW WOW!! Awesome! Hope you feel as amazing as you look! Dawn

YUMMY !! SOunds great! I will try it out. LOVE PB! Thanks for posting! Dawn

BIG congrats to you!!!!!!! How are you feeling? Sorry for your new found allergy. Its hard when you already have so many foods to avoid as it is. Keep smiling and dropping the pounds! Much Success!! Dawn

THANK YOU all so much for your valuable advice. I know you are right and I have to be patient for sure. I will mention to my doc when I see him but I am sure it will get better with time. It was great to hear so many other people going through it.....No offense but at least I am not alone. BIG wish to you all that this moodiness is quick lived. SMILES! Dawn Happy to report that I am down 28 lbs since surgery June 1st. SO happy about the weight loss! Have to figure out how to update my ticker

Mine were SUPER itchy also for the last 2 weeks. I had red raised rashes over all my incisions but now it is much better. From what I see and hear, it is normal as long as your incisions are clean and not leaking. I am one month out and they FINALLY don't itch......Yeah! Dawn

I am sooooo confused. I am normally a happy go-lucky girl with so much patience for everything and everyone..........Well, I will officially be 1 month post-op tomorrow and I have been experiencing severe mood swings for the last 2 weeks.... In the begining (after week one) i contributed the moods to lack of sleep from discomfort and no food but now that I am eating (pureed) I thought it would be over. Anyone else experiencing this? I take a chewable Multivitamin everyday but I am wondering if I am missing some valuable Vitamins or minerals I am not getting. Or easy answer would be that now I am a b***h...... My friends and family say they don't see these mood swings but they are just being nice. My husband tells me I went from sweet to b***h on wheels........ HELP ! Any suggestions would be appreciated. I put a call into the surgeon to see if they got my blood test results from last week showing my Vitamin levels. Thanks all! Dawn

SOUNDS amazing, will have to try soon!! The SF Torani carmel is hard to find.....Did you order online? Thanks for the yummy sounding recipe! Dawn

I have never had acid issues prior to surgery but day one home from the hospital I had BAD acid issues. I had to take prevacid. Now, I am almost one month post surgery and the Prevacid is no longer needed. Haven't taken it in 2 weeks! Hope that helps. GOOD LUCK! All the best, Dawn

SO absolutely SWEET of you!! Thanks for doing this ! Dawn

YUMMO!! I LOVE deviled eggs, can you post your recipe.....Now I want one but that is not happening at work, lol. I am also on the pureed/mushy stage. I have found that it was much more flexible than I thought. I have made: turkey meatballs with crushed tomatos and ricotta (pureed of course) Ricotta bake (eggface) refried Beans with cheddar cheese SF choc pudding with non-fat lactaid and a scoop of GNC unflavored why Protein (21g) chicken salad tuna salad taco (of course no shell...) just made the turkey meat with the taco seasonings and put in the food processor with a little bit of plain non fat greek yogurt. Added shredded non-fat cheddar to the top.....DELISH! also LOVE the GNC Wheybolic Extreme Protein shakes (60g protein) I drink one a day (1/2 in am & the other 1/2 by 4pm) THANKS for the post! Dawn

I returned after 6 days. A little painful and discomfort especially to drive but made it happen. Everyone is different. I told my job 2 weeks and I returned sooner and looked like a hero........Just kidding. BEST OF LUCK! I was sleeved June 1st and everyday gets better than the next ! Dawn

Thanks Kelly! I did check out her website and the recipes are awesome. I have had the ricotta bake many times Thanks again! Dawn