TexasTina

My Dr allowed decaf when I went to my 2 wk post op, but said regular coffee until 6 months. I've also had terrible trouble with constipation. Well, last Saturday (at 7 wks out) I finally had my first 2 cups of decaf with some regular coffee-mate, and added some protein powder. I actually had to run to the bathroom a few hours later. Hurray! I'd rather have it without the protein, but I need that. I hadn't tried it during the work week. Scared to. But did so a few hours ago because I'm constipated again. Hope it has the same effect before morning. Had been on Benefiber for a couple of weeks, but that seems to have lost it's power.

Thanks for the responses. Today I noticed the tiny stitch tip had popped back out of the scab and so the scab looked less pointy. Still black, but I guess the stitch had been hiding in it. Kinda like an ingrown hair. Gonna try to wash the scab off. Kinda afraid to pull the stitch tip out. Maybe I'll wait until my 3 month follow up and have Dr. do it. Unless it does begin to look infected.

I'll be 2 months out this Friday and have had no complications. Had 5 incisions and 2 of them had what appeared and felt like a small piece of stitch/thread at the end of them. One of them finally disappeared and is healing as smooth as the other 3. One, however still has that small piece I can mostly feel and a scab has formed at the tip. It looks like a pimple. Today, however, I noticed the scab looks black. More like a big blackhead. Does anybody have any idea if this is normal or should I go see the Dr? That usually means a 3-4 hr wait for a few minutes of his time. Hope someone can relate out there.

So my nut said I should be eating 6 small meals a day (1/4-1/2 cup at each) and I can't possibly do that! I am 4 weeks out, have lost 29 lbs, manage to get in all my chewable Vitamins (yuck!) and feel great. I get to work at 7:30 am, have my Protein shake (1/2 c), Then my snack @ 10:30 or 11:00: another 1/2 c Protein Shake. lunch will be @ 1;30 or 2:00: 1/2 c cream Soup or fat free yogurt w/protein added. Then I have dinner @ 6:00 pm. If I add another afternoon snack I wouldn't be having dinner until 8:00! And that would still only be 5 meals. I manage 4-5 8oz glasses of Water and have been doing 30 minutes on the treadmill (slowly) 5 days a week since 2 weeks out. My daily calories average between 450-500 per day, less than 40 carbs, and 60-70g of protein daily. So I'm wondering if this sounds okay to you guys out there and if not, how do you possibly get all those meals in? My nut insists I follow her plan.

What are symptoms of a leak anyway? My Dr never told me what to look for.

Thanks for the suggestion. I will check that blog out. That's why I'm frustrated at the thought of 4 weeks of what looks like the same diet as the full liquid stage. Thinking of just doing it for 2 weeks and then trying some of the stuff other people are having.

How long were you guys on pureeds/mushies? My mushy stage doesn't allow eggs. Just a few things like cottage cheese and any soup that can be blended. And this stage is for 4 freakin weeks! Thing I'll have to stick to liquids another 4 weeks!

Okay, this is my 2nd day on stage 3 (pureeds/blended) and I can't see much difference between this diet and full liquids. They gave me a short list of things to try but they look gross blended. Think about drinking cottage cheese! I read other people's posts and no one seems to be on stage 3( pureed) for a month and stage 4 (very soft foods) for another month before trying regular foods. Stage 1 was clear liquids for 5 days and Stage 2 was full liquids for 2 weeks. What do you guys suggest?

Thanks for the responses, guys. And for the laughs. I asked today (a little bit more discreetly than Knee2010 ) and he said it would be fine now at 3 weeks this Friday. Surprisingly, he also okayed decaf coffee for me, although his nutritionist had said not until 2 months later. He said I could have caffeine at 6 months.

Will be 3 weeks post op this Friday and see my Dr on Wednesday but too embarassed to ask him, so when are we allowed to have sex again? Not in a hurry to do so (could use the rest), just wondering.

Thanks for the article, Rick. Helped release some stress. I also think that maybe the cream of wheat and cream soups on my full liquid diet and even the yogurt may have too many carbs.

Okay, yesterday I hit 2 weeks post-op. I mentioned before that I lost 13lbs on week 1. Haven't lost a damn lb since! I have tried on some smaller clothes that fit (1 size lower). I see a lot of posts about 3 week stall, but anyone else hit a 1 week stall that can shed some light on why so soon and when will it pass. Weighed myself again today. Still no other loss.

I actually took them off last night, slowly, since they were still pretty stuck but looked nasty to me. They seem to hurt a bit because some of the scabs came off with the strips. My husband says by the looks of them I probably should have removed them earlier. But they're healing, just a bit painful now that the strip isn't there holding everything stuck together.

Just posted a question regarding my diet and how I can't eat all they ask Stage 2. I had 5 days clear liquids, 2 weeks full liquids, 4 weeks pureed, 4 weeks very soft solids. They did provide specific lists as to what foods they allow at each stage. Not many choices.

I'm 2 wks post-op tomorrow and on Stage 2 of my diet. Stage 1 was the first 5 days: Clear liquids. Stage 2 is full liquids from a list given to me by Dr.'s office nutritionist for 2 weeks. Stage 3 is pureed for 4 weeks! Followed by 4 more weeks of very soft solids. I am having a hard time with Stage 2 because they ask that I have 3 meals, 3 Snacks. Sample menu calls for the following: Bkft= 1/2 c cream of wheat, 1/2 c skim milk; snack= 1/2 c whey Protein shake; Lunch= 1/2 c strained fat free cream Soup, 1/2 c sugar free pudding; snack= 1/2 c protein shake; Dinner= 1/2 c cream soup again, 1/2 c fat free yogurt; snack= 1/2 c Protein shake. Is it just me or is this a lot of food? Trying to space these out about 2 hrs and trying to get Water in 30 minutes before and after is a chore. I only do 1 of the things they ask at each meal (1/2 c), no way would I have room for a total cup at any meal time. I'm also stuck at a 13lb loss week 1 and nothing week 2. Am wondering if this sounds about right compared to you all's diets or should I be eating less. I'm not hungry so I don't want to eat at times. I also think 4 wks for purees and 4 weeks for very soft solids is a long time before I can try regular food again. Would appreciate your input tremendously.