Time2Lose

Hey Guys: Hang in there. Stalls happen to all of us, some admittedly more than others. I am 4 months out and luckily have only had two stalls which lasted about a 1-2 weeks, but once it passes it's like your body kicks into high gear and within a week clothes that were too tight are too loose. Please be patient, your body is trying hard to adjust. I have had problems keeping up with eating and drinking; the issue being that I am seldomly hungry...I have to get back on the Protein Shakes and keep it up because I seem to be losing hair. Try not to be obsessed with the scale...I know someone who weighs every morning (I think that's a set up because our weight fluctuates some much). I weight once a week (Monday mornings).

I am 3 weeks and 5 days out. I know the pain you speak of. I still encounter it now but less frequently and it hurts less too. I found Popsicles worked best during your stage, along with hot drinks. It'd hard to keep up with the liquids but u must try. Good luck! It gets easier!

I remember taking the doctor as I got on the table, then the next thought was "I'm alive!" the pain was clearly there but it was manageable. Kinda felt like a very bad menstrual episode but then mine tend to be painful (I even went without pain meds during the menstrual cycle preceding the surgery to "prep"). They kept the meds coming at regular intervals (didn't have a pump). I was on IV fluids for 24 hours. The barium swallow was the most nasty part, don't know what the heck they made me swallow but that thing was awful!! I didn't have a catheter. I was instructed to stop all fluids at midnight the night before my surgery, which was at 5pm. I peed a lot after surgery, it hurt to get out of bed but it was more like the pain you get after a million crunches Water was the enemy! It hurt to drink it, Popsicles and I became best buds. Lived on that the first couple of days. Broth was ok but swallowing was a bit of an issue and even now (3 weeks out) I still have kinda hit my chest every now and then when I drink or eat something that decides it doesn't want to go down smoothly. One other thing, my taste buds are from another bloody planet right now! I have purchased Welch's white grape juice pre-op, it tasted foul in my mouth post-op! I couldn't stand the chicken broth and bouillions I'd purchased; I will find that I waste food as I try to navigate what to see because I can only have a few bites (if I can stomach the taste of it). What has really worked for me: First and second week - Caramel Apple Spice from Starbucks. The extremes work well (ie. iced/slushy or hot drinks). For protein: I have a magic bullet and in it I put some water, a scoop of Whey Protein Isolate 28 vanilla flavor (from GNC), one Fage 0% fat Greek plain yogurt, frozen fruit (strawberries/blueberries) and blend. Packs in 46g of protein! Please take care of your incisions. I purchased Hibiclens from CVS along with an antiseptic/antibacterial spray. I struggled with the Cipro antibiotic, even when I cut the pill into two, the taste was just horrid, but I am good now. I have one more incision that needs to fully heal up, but otherwise I am good. Oh, you may feel weak/wiped out easily the first few weeks, so be prepared for that (especially after you head back to work). Well good luck guys! Hope you all have smooth surgeries and recoveries!

I wouldn't sweat the vitamins or proteins right now. Just find some sugarless Popsicles that you like and stick with those if drinking is a challenge. I found it hard to swallow much for the first 2 weeks but then it got a lot better. Good luck and don't freak out!

I have two un-healed incisions! Need to get some incision glue. I'm walking around with a mini hole in my stomach

Thanks guys! I was able to get them out! A few of the scars seem to ooze a bit though...yuck!

Having trouble removing a stitch or two. The bottom of the knot that I need to clip is below the skin Some of the tight ones I removed by sliding a pair of twizzers under it and then cutting the stitch with a razor but I have two stitches that are just a pain in the butt to get out! Any ideas?

Why not get liquid multi-vitamins. I got mine from GNC.

When was your surgery? Potato soup might be too thick if you just had surgery. You should be on broths, warm clear drinks and Popsicles (sugar free).

It happens to me too...less now (7 days out) than before. I find hot drinks work better, but like andkel30 said, I sip then pat my chest to burp myself. The little air that precedes the liquid seems to get trapped and hurts like hell. It get better though. I avoided drinks and stuck with sugar free popsicles to get my liquids in during the first few days. By day 5 it was better, but I still can't do cold drinks...those just hurt too much.

Thanks jswilbur! Of course when it rains it pours, in the past two hours I have being sneezing my head off! I am thinking allergies since it was like 70 degrees today and the flowers probably don't know what to do with themselves! Contemplating taking allergy meds now, because I feel like I may sneeze my stitches out! SMH!

Are you getting enough liquids in? It may be affecting the moisture levels within your skin. I am a moisture addict and the past week I've been moisturizing more and actually switched to a thicker moisturizer this morning.

There is a soup I make (it's African) that I used to replace chicken broth, which I find is just so bland. Two chops up onions, tomato puree (enough to make the color of the broth to your liking - I prefer it red), 2-3 bay leaves, some black pepper, some salt (to taste), some seasoned salt, lots of thyme, scotch bonnet peppers (I like pepper though, so you can skip this); a spoon or two of sugar; chicken legs/thighs/wings/oxtail/beef (clearly you would not be consuming these after the soup is done - you can freeze them for when you can actually eat them); pop all items in a pressure cooker and cook under medium heat for about 30 to 45 mins depending on the number of creature you have in it; and Bob's your uncle! Sorry...forgive the British slang there lol! When you can do soft foods you can include potatoes and carrots before your pressurize...very yum!!

Try Hot drinks. Cold drinks mock me!! They hurt my chest giving me a choking feeling. I got an apple spice from Starbucks, diluted it with some hot Water and it just sailed down with no pain!

Oh...sorry to hear I still can't handle cold ones, so I go hot. Just got a Venti Skinny coffee Drink from Starbucks for "dinner". It goes down well if I sip sip sip, but every now and then I forget and gulp and then it feels like my chest is about to explode! I popped out to CVS and got some Delsum 12-hour, so the coughing is minimal now. Have you tried anything soft? I can manage Fage 0% Fat Greek Yogurt just fine; it has 18g of Protein, I mix in some vanilla essence and Splenda and it's pretty good. I hope you start tolerating your liquids soon #Hugs