Getting-used-to-new-me

You could check out the meetup groups in your area for activities you enjoy doing. Www.meetup.com

Thanks for that!

Yeah! That's what I'm looking for, great ideas!

I don't know if there's already a thread of this kind. But how's everyone using the time they now have that they used to use surrounding food? Any new hobbies? Interests?

Day 12 post so bored and just blah feeling-it's the weekend and I miss food. Tired of not feeling hungry or feeling hungry and having to eat the same boring food or 2 bites of something that takes me 30 minutes to cook- I feel like crying screaming or something Just venting...

I hear you! I'm trying to think of things to do, like new hobbies, to fill the time I used to spend on food and eating. Any ideas?

Thanks Birthsjourney!

Hopingnomeds, sorry to hear about ur visit back to the hospital. Praying tht all is well and the worst is over

Thanks Ghopeful! Prayers truly make the difference! I feel a lot better today and have some of my ruddy complexion back. The hospital staff say I've passed a lot of old blood during the night. And that I look much better, instead of looking like a yellow cadaver as I did yesterday.

Hopingnomeds so sorry to hear your in the hospital but at least it's fixed now!

Thanks Greenize. I hope so too.

Oh no...do they know what caused it?! Are you ok?

Thanks for the reply Amy. I'm on several meds still. They think the bleeds started at my RNY surgery on 12/10/13, then were exacerbated by my Plavix. Ill be of Plavix from now on. I hope no one else has complications.

Has anyone had slow bleeding from pouch stoma? I'm in the hospital now. Had an upper GI. And they cauterized the bleeders. I should be released tomorrow.

My tastes have definitely changed. For example, the flavored Protein Shakes I had before surgery, I can't stomach now. They're way too sweet. Syrupy sweet. Also, Water doesn't taste right. My NUT said I could add a little bit of crystal light to the water or a small piece of fruit to improve the flavor of water. That worked. My wife tried it and said it's too watered down for her. But it tastes best to me. I'm including a list of what tastes good to me now, so far. I've tried many things pureed, and several things I used to like are now revolting. They aren't on the list below. If you want to know the things I can't stand now, let me know. So here's the good stuff pureed, so far: Apple sauce, Cottage cheese, String cheese, Bacon, Vegetable/tomato juice, Water, with a tiny bit of crystal light or a tiny piece of fruit, Non-fat yogurts, unflavored Protein shakes, Scrambled eggs, and Mashed potatoes from box. What are your favorites so far?

That list sounds similar to mine. I'm on week 2 post op RNY on Dec 30. I've considered puréeing everything in our house, but have only actually puréed Mac n Cheese with tuna ( wasn't bad tasted like cheese wiz) eating mashed and gravy, applesauce unsweetened, loads of Fage Greek yogurt with Splenda , broths, Powerade Zero, a Laughing cow cheese triangle per day, and I think I have issues with some sugar substitutes. It seems like I can drink normally, no huge issues there.

Weird stuff: Crystal Light was way too sweet after surgery, couldn't stand the smells from the cleaning persons products in hospital.

Yes, it sounds familiar. I have just tried Greek yogurt, and if I work at it, I can almost imagine it as soft ice cream! My main thing right now is focusing on eating no more than a teaspoon at a time and waiting to see if that's too much--my pouch tells me loud and clear when that happens! The pain is the worst! I have to always remember to be totally conscious of everything I put in my mouth now.

Strangely, plain Water tastes bad to me now. I can't even handle small amounts without a little lemon juice or something.

You can get the trackers from your account window. The editing of the tracker properties is a little clunky. Let me know if you need more help.

Hi, i am new to this site and I am post op as of Nov 38, 2013. So far it all went really well just having some issues on know what to eat. I am good with Soups and soft liquids. Having a hard time remembering to eat slow and small tiny amounts. Seems i have to get sick allot when trying new things. The meds are the hardest to remember to take for me.

Welcome! I think it's hard for all of us. I have to remember to be conscious of everything i put in my mouth. That's a totally new concept for me.

For what it's worth, I have multiple alarms set on my phone to remind me to eat and drink. I need them. Without them I've forgotten to eat and drink unless I see someone else eating or drinking.

I just had my surgery on Monday and honestly I feel too good. I am hungry or at least my brain is and this liquid diet is for the birds. I had sf Jello today and I couldn't stand it as it was too sweet. I loved sweets pre-op so maybe I got my wish and my sweet tooth was cut out. I think tomorrow I might try a bit or two of yogurt. I don't want to rush and rupture my pouch or anything but I haven't had any real food in over a week. Anyone else struggled with just liquids post-op?

I think we all struggle. We were good eaters pre-surgery after all. But the limits of the pouch keep us on track. I can't take sweets anymore either. Or Water, strangely. But I found a little lemon juice in my water bottle makes it more palatable. My NUT says most of us can't handle sweets, even crystal light, except in diluted quantities. She says it's our bodies trying to protect us from "dumping syndrome". I've found that sour things are easier to handle, like that little bit of lemon juice.

The one on a pencil although I would rather it be the big pink eraser! Lol

Yes, that's about all I can handle too of the new stuff I've experimented with. Anything bigger SCARES me. It's like my head hunger says "Yes!" And my body says if you do, I'll really make you pay!

I felt like I had good in my throat so to takeu own advice and the advice I was given I made my bites the size of a pencil eraser and it works marvelously ! It's hard to eat that small of bites but I have many more things to learn as I travel this road of a walnut size tummy! With all of you along side me of course. This forum is the first thing I look at when I pick up my phone! Glad you are all with me for this ride.

Now is that the eraser that's usually on a pencil, or a pink pearl, or really a chalk or whiteboard eraser?

I think I probably took too big of bites. I also had butternut squash with it. Thanks for the help. I'm gonna slow down and stick with the stuff I know I can handle.

Glad to help! We're all in this new life together.

I agree! Eat what your tummy likes. I experiment like this: I try a level teaspoon of something and wait for five minutes or more. If no pain, I'll try another level teaspoon. It's the pain and nausea that determine what and how much I eat. pureed foods in small amounts are what I tolerate right now.

Thanks for the Protein info!

I am only suppose to walk right now and then at six weeks add weights!

It might be the difference between men's and women's muscle mass. My dumbbell routine is with lighter weights than I'm used to. I'll try to increase it when I'm able. My NUT and ARNP told me to get enough Protein and I think I am. With the Protein Shakes and the protein in my pureed foods I think I'm getting over 60 grams per day.

I know it's boring, but have you tried running/jogging in place on a cushion or mini-trampoline? It's so boring on my treadmill, that I made a desk. It's really just a shelf board across the arms of the treadmill and some foam insulation pieces above that, so I can put my laptop on top and make posts to this forum as I walk. I can also watch videos, and play games while I walk. I think if I didn't have this, I'd set up some cushions or a mini-tramp in front of the TV.

How about exercise? I know, it's like a four-letter-word. But I was told by my surgeon's NUT and ARNP that I'm supposed to get in 30 minutes of cardio 3-5 days per week, and can do weights too, just not power lifting until I'm about six months past surgery. Before surgery they gave me a bunch of stretches and light exercises to do, like ankle pumps, until I could get on to "real" cardio. So I started at one minute on my treadmill and advanced it a minute a day until I got some aerobic capacity back. I've been working up to the 30 minutes--I'm at 25 minutes, 2.5 mph, 4% incline on my treadmill. And I'm sweating like crazy! I'm also doing an upper body routine with 10 pound dumbbells. Anyone else?

I get the pain and nausea and cold sweats. That's my signal that I've swallowed too much or too fast. It's like a speed governor in a truck--no matter how much you stomp the gas pedal, you can't go any faster.

I just have to remember to eat small amounts very slowly.