natalie_christin

I had surgery on September 17… I made it through all of my post op levels and now I'm on regular food. While I have a problem switching the mindset from eating low-fat to not worry about fat and just carbs– Which just blows my mind… I'm still trying to be pragmatic and pay special attention to what I'm eating. I did take care of Protein first. But the problem is, I stopped losing weight and now I've even gained a couple of pounds. I don't know if this is just due to a back up intentionally – sorry not trying to be crude, I'm not sure how else to convey that… Or if it's because of my steroid shots and rheumatoid medicine… I really wish I had more help with my dietitian. I'm trying to do the right thing on both sides of the fence. I'm staying away from carbs and I'm sticking to chicken or fish.... I know this isn't going to be an easy battle but I wish I had more guidance when it comes to all of this. I'm sorry, I'm not intending to complain, I just felt like I'm out there flailing around ever since surgery. I already knew that I had severe rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis as well as other pain conditions and nerve damage on my spine and abdominal wall but just also found out I have psoriatic arthritis too. It just adds to the bunch LOL Blessings, Nat

Hi Gamergirl – I'm glad you started page for people with autoimmune disorders but when I went to the lake, it was different then the normal threads/pages… I couldn't see a way to post and it didn't look like there were any bows to begin with. I would appreciate any guidance you willing to offer. Do you think that they would consider opening one under the special circumstances thread or something like that? I don't know exactly what it's called but I can find it.

I stopped taking it too…. I was advised to stop taking it preop so I never started again. I have to go see my gynecologist next week so, I guess that's one of the questions I should be asking. I'm also not on my birth control pills – that was another thing they want to meet a stop preop i'm not sure if that will affect any weight gain or Water retention or anything of that nature… I'm on a relatively low dose one. But I can definitely feel the sis coming on and feeling them burst. It's not as bad or I should say frequent when I'm on my meds. What are y'all's experience with them?

I appreciate everyone's feedback… I'm very limited when it comes to funds and it's not possible for me just to go to other nutritionists because I can't afford it frankly. They let me see this nutritionist at a reduced rate… The weird thing is with this surgery and the diet after is, every doctor is different. It's kind of crazy that way. Just like the Atkins bars – I'm super surprised that they were pushing them but they had so much sugar in them. And they tried to tell me that it wasn't about the carbs that it said on the back that it was about the net carbs – well if it's that way, I could eat just about anything LOL… My plan for right now is to do iQ guys are suggesting – protein first and veggies second. I try to do my best if we happen to have to go out to eat. I try to make better/wiser decisions about where we go what I have. I've always try to be on the healthy side to begin with but I always focused on low-fat instead of low-carb. That's the thing that it's Ge give me is that I'm so used to focusing on eating low-fat that The dietitian telling me to have a high-fat item just blows my mind. For example, she said if I happen to have a salad to use for fat ranch? I don't get that what's wrong with balsamic vinaigrette or something on the healthier side? What kind of foods do you guys eat? Do you have any recipes that you might want to share with the group at all? I've got a great salmon marinade if anybody's interested… I just thought if we exchanged ideas that might help us I'll be a little bit more successful. I'm also trying to work on the exercise thing. I have multiple medical conditions and have severe chronic pain all the time. It's kicking my butt right now but I'm hoping to get on track and be able to go and exercise. That's the key to me getting better. Well, I'll never get better but the weight doesn't help at all. Thanks for everybody's ideas and I hope we continue to share some.

You made me laugh and smile – sometimes we have to do we have to do. I'm glad that you got what you needed out of it. Postop was a very hard time for me to navigate through – I don't or should I didn't feel like I had much support when it came from the doctors office. It was almost like I was rushed and I rushed out. I believe my doctor had really good intentions but they just started their new practice – they've been apart of two others in the past 10 years but it just seemed like it was a runaway train and I couldn't get where I should have been. I'm still finding my way but I think we will all be searching one way or another to find our way. Hopefully we can all work together here and help support one another :-)

Hi guys, I thought I would post this thread for others like me that are getting contradicting information from the assigned Dietician. I want to be as successful as possible on this diet. Well I guess I shouldn't say diet because it's going to be a lifelong thing but, my questions don't ever seem to be answered and the only thing that I have been told is to stay away from carbs and eat Protein. But then it doesn't make much sense when they promote Adkins bars or other Protein Bars and they have 20 something are grams of carbs and then… It doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I would rather get more quality carbs or quality protein. I know different doctors say different things as far as diets are concerned and different doctors also have different timelines but, I'm just trying to find the most successful way possible on this life change. I have no problem staying away from bread, potatoes,, Or pasta… Although I admit I miss potatoes and Pasta sometimes, but I haven't indulged. I try going back to the nutritionist several times (which I can't afford in the first place) thinking that I'll get the correct answers but The meeting seems to be short and sweet and nothing ever accomplished. I am a big veggie person too – I also like chicken and fish. I can take or leave red meat. I am in my normal stage of eating now – I was sleeved on September 17th... I'm supposed to be allowed to eat anything at this point – anything being the variable word of course… I don't mean anything and everything but there are no diet restrictions any longer according to my doctors plan. I just wish that everything was a little bit more uniforms and everything and everyone was on the same page. I'm open to any ideas, suggestions, recipes, anything of that nature… As I'm sure we all want to be, I just want to be as successful as possible. I would also like this diet and waited eating to rub off on my family as well. What works for you guys? I know that I'm in a try to start doing some research on my own and finding things that are hiring protein and it's vegetables that are lower in carbs. I was told that I'm not allowed fruit -which sucks… I don't know if it's considered cheating that I used an orange last week to squeeze out the juice for a marinade for my salmon… But I figured a little bit couldn't hurt – right? I was also at SAMs the other day and they had whole pomegranates and then the pomegranate seeds that are filled with juice. I'm sure that those are a complete no no but I know that they also have a large antioxidant base and other health propensities… So it's frustrating I want to try some things but can't. Any thoughts or ideas? Natalie

Thank you all... I really appreciate it

I don't know quite how to explain this. There have been a few occasions now where I feel like I am "eating air" – I'm not sure how else to describe it but, when I sit down to eat, it's almost as if my body needs to release the air or I can't actually eat. I am 3 1/2 weeks postop and am eating soft foods now… It's like I have to burp several times and it's difficult to do that. I never burp or I have never had to before. I don't know that makes any sense at all… Does anybody else had this type of experience? Where you have air that needs to escape your stomach or what have you? Thanks for anybody's help or input, Natalie

They just told me that it was harder for the body to digest and if they wanted to make it easier for the new stomach to heal and to tolerate things. I was allowed to have almond milk pre-op but not post.

Wow – it seems a lot of you guys are allowed to have it with almond milk. My dog won't allow it. I have to make some sequestrate Water but, I am allowed to add extract to them. I have vanilla extract, coconut, and strawberry. I have different flavors of Chike as well. I have tried making them into ice pops – I had put my coffee cup in the freezer – it had my Chike in it and it's I pulled it out hours later and it was frozen solid and I let it thaw for just a little bit and ended up making it into a slushy. It went down pretty well that way… I definitely have to have a cold or doesn't go down very well. But I'm having a great deal of trouble getting in the amount of Protein I'm supposed to get in. I'm three weeks postop and I'm supposed to have two shakes a day but, i'm lucky if I can get one end. I know it's bad and I should be trying to get the other end but, I'm just not hungry… Natalie

Thank you for your thoughts – I really need to just get started and get into the process – I hope I can get into it and really apply myself.

Lol- good watchful eyes :-) I just sort of jumped on the bandwagon and assumed. I guess I just put my foot my mouth… LOL