Sleevedreamz

Thanks, I had the surgery on the 4th so I'm almost 3 weeks out. I stopped breaking out a day before the surgery so they went ahead with it. Yay!

I have bought a few things, but I don't want to spend too much because I have no idea what size I will be around goal. Previously at that weight I wore a size 0 or 2 and I know my body has changed drastically so I have a hard time knowing where I will end up and don't want to waste too much money. I've bought a few tops for this winter that I thought were cute and figured I'd be able to get into, but haven't ventured out to buy any jeans or skirts. I have jeans of every size bc I kept all of my old ones, but I know I will want to buy new when the time comes bc I'll be so excited.

My favorite so far has been Lowfat White Chicken Chili bc it was packed full of flavor and protein and only took about 40 minutes total to prepare: 4 cans great northern beans, 1 lb. chicken, 2 cloves garlic, 1 cup diced onion, 2 t. Oregano, 2 cans lowfat cream of chicken, 3 cups lowfat chicken broth, 1 can diced green chiles,6 oz low fat/fat free sour cream, and 2 cups low fat monterey jack shredded cheese. Cover your skillet with olive oil, add the diced onion, crushed garlic cloves, chicken (I added whole pieces and cut up later, but you can cut up beforehand if you want), and canned chilies. I set the stove top on about 4-5 and covered with a lid and let all of this cook together. I went ahead and got my larger pot ready and added the beans, cream of chicken, broth, and oregano and let this start heating up on low to medium heat. After about 10-15 minutes (when my chicken was cooked through) I added the skillet ingredients (I cut my chicken up at this time) into the pot so that everything could cook together. I cooked on medium heat for about 30 minutes. At the very end, we added the 6oz of sour cream and the cheese and let simmer for another 5-10 minutes and then it was ready to go. I added about a tsp of sour cream on top of soup right before I ate it and I loved it. I will probably have this again for lunch tomorrow.

You could also add unflavored protein powder to this mix and I doubt you'd notice it was there. Good luck!

Try adding unflavored protein powder to anything you are eating whether it be broth during your liquid phase or soups, etc. during and after your pureed phase. I am only able to eat about 4oz per meal and I'm in the pureed stage so I'm trying to eat soups that have meat, cheese, and beans (chicken chili, broccoli cheddar, etc.) as well as cottage cheese and skim milk which also has protein. I am probably not getting it all in (I'm only 3 days out) but I am sure trying to make sure everything I put into my body is loaded with protein. Good luck!

My mother was very unsupportive. She didn't say it was a quick fix (which sucks that yours did), but she just kept saying things to scare me. "What if....you get stomach cancer later on, die, have problems, etc. etc." However, my mother has never been supportive of anything or decision I've made so I am pretty much used to it. She is not educated on the matter and therefore she just says things she shouldn't say. She did the same thing when I became pregnant. I had back problems so when I got pregnant instead of being excited (like a normal person would) she made negative comments and really took the joy away from me. A few weeks later I lost the baby and I thought I may never forgive her pessimistic attitude towards everything. I realize every situation is different, but as you've said, you are your own woman and you are making this decision for you and for your happy and healthy future. Perhaps mom needs to go a few weeks without hearing from you in order to have time to realize that you have no space in your life for negativity. I completely understand being concerned, but sometimes I just don't get why people can't just be happy for other's decisions, etc. You have to do what is right for you and it is hard to want that approval and not be able to get it. You'll be in my thoughts as you undergo this transformation. I had my surgery Tuesday and I feel so excited for what the future holds.

I thought about this, but I don't think so. I think it was just bad luck and bad timing. I didn't break out last night so hopefully they will be able to move forward with surgery tomorrow. I am definitely nervous now and feel very out of sorts today knowing this is happening tomorrow. Hard to believe!

How scary for you. First of all, I would like to say that at your age, you shouldn't make a dnr decision while you are depressed. I can completely empathize with you and hate this for you. It sounds like a terrible ordeal to endure. But, please consider that aside from how hard this is, making a death decision while depressed is not ideal. I feel confident to tell you that I have faith that you will somehow overcome this. I know that there may seem like not even a flicker of light to look forward to, but that is usually the case when we are facing extremely horrible and depressing things...but, they almost always improve and I'm praying now that this will for you.

It is unfortunate that some people have such horrific side effects, but we all go through with this decision anyways in hope of a better quality of life. I know it makes it worse to look forward to only to end up in misery.

Please call your doctor's office every day that this is not improving in order to make them fully aware of the seriousness. Don't wait for things to change, call them everytime you have a problem so they can assist you before you become so dehydrated, etc. again.

I feel so bad and wish there was more I could do or say. As for food, have you tried nibbling on mashed potatoes? I know they are carbs, which is not ideal after surgery, but this seems to be more about survival at this point and getting over this hump. When I have been sick at my stomach in the past and struggling to eat, these are a few things I have tried:

• Gatorade, mixed with water in order to dilute. It is full of electrolytes which can help plus you will be mixing with water which can aid in fighting the dehydration, but you don't want to get too much sugar. I'd probably try G2 mixed with water now that it is an option and there are several flavors so maybe you can find one that is tolerable.
  
• Mashed potatoes. I was able to nibble on these a little easier than almost anything else when I was severely sick.
  
• Another thing you may try is a light yogurt (this may be hard bc it is thicker, but it is full of protein so it's worth a shot.)
  
• There are some meal replacement drinks I use bc I can't drink anything thick (as it grosses me out). It is called Advocare meal replacement shake. It mixes with water and doesn't have the after taste or smell of most meal replacements and it's loaded with protein. What I love most is that you can mix it with less water than required so that it isn't so much to drink and it's still relatively thin. It may be worth a shot. It is a little pricey so I had to sign up as a distributor bc I need the discount as I am drinkinig this every day for my protein, but it is well worth it for me. Here's the site: www.AdvoCare.com/120531202 You can just go to shop and type in meal replacement shake in the search bar. I always use the chocolate bc I like that flavor in general, but I have heard the other flavors are good as well.
  

I am so sorry for what you are going through and I am happy to lend an ear to help get you through this. I just have a strong feeling that you can and will get through this. Hang in there sweet girl.

Rach

Thank you all for your comments! I just got my surgery date of Sept 4th which I'll most likey blog about before I go in. I am only working part time so fortunately I won't have to worry about that for a little while. I will most likely go back to work full time in November once I get over some hurdles.

I was skeptical about joining a board, but I have to say that reading your comments gave me some peace so I'm glad I did. I wish you all the best as well. It is very exciting to take control back!

This is probably my biggest fears also! I havie extremely long fine blonde hair and I am terrified it will fall out enough to make me bald. If I had thick hair I don't think I'd be nearly as concerned, but I don't so I am. I am taking biotin twice daily and all of my multivitamins. I am not taking Zink so I should add that. My surgery will most likey be next week. I am prepared to pay big money for extensions if I have to although they may make my hair fall out worse. lol. Really hoping for the least amount of hair loss possible. So frustrating to take such a big step that comes with such a big reward and a big consequence. :/