Kaj

The last couple of days I have moved to minimal amounts of mushies. I was focused on taco bell pintos and cheese because I saw where a couple folks commented about them being a good Protein option. What I learned: Pintos and cheese come in a WAY smaller container than they did when I was a teenager; the Beans aren't nearly as creamy OR as flavorful as I remember; and finally - two infant spoonfuls mean I won't be able to eat OR drink anything the rest of the day there after totally negating my ability to get plenty of liquids AND protein in . Contrary to thoughts, pinto beans are not high protein when you can only eat two bites. Then this morning, maybe 2 teaspoons of corned beef hash and scrambled eggs. I then had a Protein shake for lunch and one for dinner and my stomach was grateful! I'm still struggling with the final 11 oz of Water I've got left of my goal of 32 ozs total for today. Whew! This getting all the stuff in during the day id hard work if you have to actually eat food! I did also have a tablespoon of gelato because I wanted something creamy and COLD. Popsicles weren't doing it for me. But just one tablespoon was definitely more than enough and satisfied that need for cold smoothness. Other than all of that, I think that for 12 days out, I'm doing ok. I'm still fatigued and tire easily and have found that a mid day nap is almost unable to be resisted, however I think part of that is because I haven't restarted my welbutrin yet. I'm going to do that tomorrow to see if I can get my meds back into balance. I go back to work on Monday and am praying I have the energy to get through this coming week. And last but but not least I'll see my Dr. for my post-op and weigh in for the first time since July 3rd so I will finally get my "starting" weight (I forgot to ask) and my "current" weight so I'll get to see if I have lost any weight. I keep having fears that I went through this surgery and will find out that it doesn't work at all. Anyway, I wanted to check in with all the 60s out here and see how you are all doing and let you know, I'm still kicking.

Today I am at 11 days out. I have been dealing with low grade fever (if you can call 99.4 "fever")all week however my surgeon and I have been in frequent contact and the general consensus is my body is just adjusting to the whole healing/starving/healing process. I am getting great amounts of liquids in and have been hitting 60 gms + in protein. I'm still tired and don't really have the energy to get up and do the jitterbug or walk 5 miles, however over all I feel good and my nurse moved me from liquids to pureed foods yesterday saying that will probably help to increase my energy level. I have a bad habit of sitting around or laying around in the bed and I'm hoping to get more motivated once I have more energy. I am returning to work on Monday and fully expect my first week back to be a bear but plan to be good to myself, take it easy, and have my clients to do their own lifting and carrying. I haven't done anything on my ticker because the last time I was on a pair of scales was the 3rd of July and I neglected to ask for the numbers. I see the Dr for my post-op on the 21st and when I get those numbers, I'll also get my July weight and see if there has been any change. I'm glad I did this and feel like it is going to be the one thing that adds many more years to my life... I hope all my 60's sleevers are doing wonderful! And for those of us that joined this "losers bench" this month, I hope you are healing well and feeling victorious! If you want to add me on MFP (my fitness pal); I am Kaj52. I'd love to have you connect with me.

http://caloriecount.about.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php

Good reminder...

What did your Dr.outline as your post op diet progression? Are you on clear liquids only or can you have full liquids? Everything liquid counts as liquid - soup, broth, popsicles (2 oz of liquid), all of it. If you are full liquids, blend the mushroom soup and then heat it. If you are on clears, try some broth. Re: diarrhea. Remember liquid in= liquid out. Welcome to the losers bench.

I like reading you. You have a great down to earth delivery. Thanks for the words. Kaj

I posited this question on one of the Facebook pages the other day and it is like talking about a leak is akin to having a black cat walk across your path. There appears to be a variety of thoughts from "always-the rest of your life" to " a year". And then there is always the one person who tells you the horror story of a sudden development of a leak 2+ years out and the veteran who uses the question as a cautionary lesson in "following your plan and never straying from it". My question was based on curiosity as it seems to me that the healing process of the body will eventually result in diminishing leak risks. My conclusion is I am going to the horses mouth and going to just ask my surgeon his opinion. (and of course do my own review of the research on the subject. ) Ultimately, I think if I was willing to have 85% of a healthy stomach removed, then worrying about a leak now is like shutting the barn after the horse gets out.

Never mind. I'm a space cadet this morning....I didn't realize the recipe name was in the title to the post. <dduh>

what is the name of this recipe?

Maybe I should take a 2nd look and let my husband see what he thinks. He does all the cooking. We switched roles about 3 yrs ago and I never lift a spoon or rattle a pot anymore. Still love to collect recipes for him to try, tho.

That's ok, girl. I was irritated at everyone else for being able to eat "real food" while I drank broth. Blessedly I was only on clears until Thursday (was that *really* only yesterday??) Tomorrow will be better, each day will get better. You are totally right where you are supposed to be after major surgery. hello??? you just had 85% of your stomach cut out! You are sorta allowed to feel less than perky.

Well said!!

My concentration in school was adult substance abuse/mental health/criminal justice. I went to school at 40, have a buttload of loans that I will be paying for until I die. It took me 5 years of applying with the VA to get hired but after years in the social services field, I can tell you that working for the Feds is the only place you will make good money with good benefits unless you want to go into private practice. If you are still in school, I would suggest you attempt to get an internship. My supervisor came on as an intern 23 yrs ago and has never worked anywhere else. You will be able to work in any state anywhere regardless of where you are licensed.

Oh...and our goat milk tastes just like cow's milk except creamier because it is raw and doesn't require pasteurization. Whey is not really a tasty substance in any case - natural or unnatural...it has a bit of tang to it, but I believe that will be no problem when mixed with fruits and vegies for smoothies.

Actually I haven't bought any Protein supplements with the exception of Premier Protein RTD because of the ease of use right after surgery; however IF I were going to purchase a Protein powder I would choose goat whey due to the easy digestibility in comparison to cow milk, lack of any unnatural additives (assuming you are purchasing organic, grass fed) and the increased level of healthy minerals, nutrients and beneficial digestive cultures. I will be using our own goat whey to make my smoothies as we always have quite a bit left when my husband makes cheese. Whey, sealed tightly in a clean jar, lasts approx 6 months if refrigerated. We don't purchase milk or cheese as our goat provides all we need for our family. We currently use the whey mainly to Water our garden and feed our chickens, but since I've had surgery, we will be making smoothies with it now as well.

I don't know how you would feel about this, but I intend to use goat's whey protein from here: http://tinyurl.com/mf5w8vn

I had to sit on my hands to keep from running to Amazon and immediately buying this cookbook!!

Clinical Social Worker with the Veterans Administration doing case management with homeless Veterans. Sleeved 8/5; didn't weigh before but think it was somewhere between 260 and 270. The surgeon weighed me July 3rd during my final consult with him and will weigh me again when I go for my post-op on the 21st. I feel good, still tire easily, getting in all my liquids and more and pushing my suggested protein intake. On liquids until I see my Doc for post-op. Life is good and now it will be better.

Oh god! that sounds SO good! I love tortilla soup.

My first night home, my husband had bacon hot dogs with mac & cheese and even tho my stomach didn't want it, my mouth sure as heck did! I salivated like Pavlov's dog.

I suggest a heating pad on warm to assist with gas pain as well as the old standby walking. I was sleeved Monday, came home Tuesday and went for short walks twice yesterday. I'm a bit more tired today than yesterday but figure that is normal surgery recovery - 3 steps forward; 1 step back. ;D

I am also 60 and ummmm..4 days out from surgery. I also had a hiatal hernia repaired however was fairly sure he would find one when he got in there so it wasn't much of a shock to me. I have had gastric acid issues since I was about 18. I had learned to live with it and used a variety of acid reducers/blockers over the years - most recently I have used Omeprazole for a 14 day course every few months or so to keep it under control. I'm not exactly doing an irish jog but I feel pretty good, got 67 oz of liquids in yesterday and about 40 gms of carbs. Use your meds. as the other folks said - gas-x, prilosec, and tums or mylanta are priceless. If you kill the acid so many of the symptoms you are experiencing will go away. Stomach acid id a bear! Feel better soon and feel free to message me if you need an ear....

You may want to break the surface tension of your water for a while with a tiny bit of crystal light to flavor it. I did that the first day and the water flowed easier into my stomach. I am doing plain water now and it tends to be "louder" with water than with crystal light'ed water. I'm determined that my stomach will heal appropriately and healthily and that I won't over baby it until I cause it to be cranky all the time. <lol> So gurgle on is what I say.

I hear mine too. I figure when it says gurgle, it is actually saying. ..slow down. Wait a bit before another sip. So I do. But that's just me. And I may be really closely geared into my gut because that is where my first indicators of my anxiety disorder will manifest so I've learned to pay attention and be proactive in order successfully manage my mental health disorders.