Frustr8

Yeah I was raised with the concept " You get what you pay for" $500 might only get you that much skill and success, you have only so much life force in you, don't sell yourself that short, you are worth so much more!

Jenn might be right, if it takes a village to raise a child then it follows that it takes a community to support someone in this endeavor, well we will support, sympathize in sorrow,vas Carole King's says YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND no matter what, we will stand with you, okay?

Warm liquids often work better than room temperature or cold things, don't know the trueness of my thought but I believe the darkness makes the knotted and brutalized muscles relax. That still works better for me at 5 months(nearly) out.

Starting to,lean that way, after a life-long carnivore, my pouch the more than bossy Ms Precious Pouch, says if you are going to eat please don't toss meat down, I don't WANT it! So as I come off my TPN feedings, maybe March or April I taper off? I had better respect her more if we are going to echist together. My PCP and his. Nurse Practioner Mark are 7th Day Adventist, said I can make it well sans meat, so I will accept their consul and start to go more in that direction. You know what I am hungry for, and I truly don't have that much hunger with TPN, satisfies my basic hunger, so this may be solely "head hunger" but Teriyaki fried Tofu sounds totally yummy! If you're curious why I'm on TPN feel free to ask, I will talk about it, okay?

That was my Late Mama's birthday, blessings be upon that date, she would be very proud 9f her Baby being a surgery success, I will honor her on that day in my mind and cheer and pray you will have great success also! Thank 6ou for bringing Happy Thoughts to mind!😪💓😪

And I think this is something to check out, like Missouri- Lee's summit, I haven't been complian with Uncle Snuffly the C-Pap. You know, I have lost 60 pounds since surgery, maybe it doesn't fit as well at this weight?

Please do, we cheer when things finally turn to the good for people on here!😝

Tonight pretty good, my pump in the backpack mentally pumping away, be just before noon when I finish. It lays on a bedside table at night while I try to sleep, bad news. is- 3 liters of fluid contained, I'm up as much as a guy my age with prostate problems. Ah it is what it is, slowed down my weight loss, I am much healthier, and I still lost 3 pounds between Christmas and now, Yippee Skippee! Oh don't count Frustr8 out, I was built at the end of WW 2, solid stainless steel, not cheap plastic, I'll be okay yet!😝💓😝

I love Wal-Mart's Vegan Protein Broth, especially since my pouch , the bossy little Precious Pouch has swore off animal protein, this broth stays down and tastes very good.

All excellent advice, although This was something I should have kept from a few people, most have treated me pretty well. The person that told me " you should be ashamed you took the place of some younger and more deserving person on the surgery schedule" I only mention because that wounded me deeply, but hocus poacus ,the b**** is gone from my life forever, I worked darn hard at 72 to get surgery, so Bye Bye Felicia to YOU!

No they are good calorically not too bad at all. They're chilling in the fridge now.

My favorite always and still is Premier Protein, I especially like liked their Peaches and Cream and Caramel, Wal-Mart where I usually shop, in their one stupidity deleted almost all flavors but vanilla and chocolate, BORING! I have also liked Muscle Milks flavors. I have been on shakes since Hector was a pup, and after 5 months Hector (my imaginary 🐕) is nearly grown up but my tummy isn't. I could get my flavors off of Wal-Mart.com, buy them at Sams Club(23 miles north) or Costco in Columbus(48 miles SE) but nary a one in Mount Vernon where I live. I haven't checked out GNC, we have one in Knox Village Square, only excuse I have is they might be expensive, today I used my on-line coupon from Ensure, they have a strawberry protein Plus, not as much protein as Premier Protein but calories are too bad, and Joy Joy they have strawberry, I'll let you know if I like it. Claricey, I am a patient-type birdie with a slightly wounded digestion now, I have ulcerations in my jejunem, the second section of small intestine used for bypasses, don't worry, it is NOT that commin, so I am fed basically 12 hours a night on Total Parenteral Feeding through a vein in my upper left arm, been that way for 2 months the 29th. This gives my GI system less stress, had a follow-up endoscopy, have them every 2-4 weeks, they are seeing improvement, were able to stretch my stomal stricture where my pouch and intestine connect slightly, maybe a couple more attempts and I can expand my diet further along, I am allowed either a shake or soup once a day, but my major calories are"piped in". Really not THAT BAD, gotten used to it, I would not probably not starved to death from inability to digest my proteins correctly and malnourishment, alas there is TOO MUCH of me for that to happen, but I ran a strong risk of it affecting my ❤ and that would have been "curtains" for me. So I am very grateful for the intervention, and that my Surgeon Dr Bradley J Needleman and his partner(who does my endoscopies( Dr Sabrena Noria that they knew just what to do. I'll make it through, just a little bumpy now. But you do have to be odd to be #1, so I try to be upbeat with what I Have.😝🌈🍀

Okay to rant a little, I'm 73 and a relative RnY newbee, only 5 months out, it took years to summon courage, thought I was fated to die obese, had a " Come to Jesus " moment, realized surgery fightened me less than continuing to live as I was, and many programs did not honor my search for surgery, I was told too many years had gone by, some cut off at 55, many at 60, a few at 70, but I found the best(for me) at Ohio State University Hospital- Wexner Medical Center in my state Capital of Columbus Ohio. He agreed with me, time had not totally passed me by, I deserved the same chance as everyone else to make my life better. Mine has not been a sunlight and spring flowers recovery, still have. a roadway with bumps in it, but guess what? It still will get me where I need to go, I trust his and his partner Sabrena Noria MD 's advice, I believe in ME, even though I didn't always, and I WILL BE A FINAL SUCCESS! And if I can do it, I know YOU can too! The journey is a path to a better, longer, healthier life! So come along with me, okay?

I still have it, find some foods that I used to love cooking repulsive. Maybe not as bad as right after surgery, but it still lurks.

I know of people who have chewed up a humburger, spiit the solids out, just for the taste of meat juice. I have cooked Tomkitten meals with a sugar free popsicle either in my mouth or upended in a plastic glass nearby. And there were times in the beginning I went to another room so the food smell didn't make me sick.

Be emotionally brave, don't be defensive, your surgeon will not be that shocked but what you say but try to convey that anything food-wise bad, now you're commited to better diet and will listen to his or her suggestions. Make sure you like this person, trust this person, for you may have a relationship. for years. My doctor and I are commited to my future health. People here know mine story has not been a textbook one but I believe in my Dr Needleman's advice and with his help, I will still claim my victory also. And I will probably have contact with O.S.U. hospital the rest of my life. They don't stop with your surgery, they want to help you become successful.

Well it is paczi season, Evil little rich Polish doughnuts with fruit filling, one of my bad little habits before. Got some for Tomkitten, cut off a walnut sized chunk, not a successful endeavor, thought I might sneak it by, it did look nicer than it was. Yeah I knew better, but I am 5 months past surgery, I get envious of all my pals. I feel so thwarted when I read of people shorter time afterwards that have a varied diet and I'm stuck still trying out shakes and soups. Emotionally I feel an outsider, but I have got to remember, you must be an odd number to finally make #1. Oh I can't give up until I find my finish line too!

Welcome J's Journey, a lot of good info here and a lot of us only willing to help. We want everyone to have a smooth surgery and a smooth journey afterwards. I hope you'll stay with us a long time!😝

only when I am going to lose my meal

And welcome @ TheGoodLyfe, you'll find a lot of friendly people on here. If you have any questions, ask, one of us will be happy to give you answers if we have them. There are all kinds of people, from Newbees to veterans of many years, and at least one of us has encountered most everythi,h under the sun. I know they sure have helped me in the past!

And my cardiologist is having me have a MRI on February 5th, turns out I didn't have as perfect an cardiology appointment as I thought. I will update you all when I know how concerning it really is.😪😟😪

Well it isn't quite the First of February but I have lost 3 and 1/2 pounds this month , even with being on TPN, which slows down loss pretty much. But my loss means enough to me as 25 pounds does to another person, so I am boasting.😝

And how are all my September Buddies doing now? Anybody still active?Yooo Hoo!👋💇✋

Well I'm not only can you keep a good woman down, you also can't make her shut up. Endoscopy yesterday , PICC LINE still in place, 12 hours on,12 hours off every day, didn't get Dr Noria, she pulled a" Bait and Switch", I ended. up with her Senior Resident Dr Noah Switzer, I really wanted her. Dr Noria is from Toronto, turns out he is from Just outside of Calgary Alberta, small world isn't it? He said he was able to dialate my stoma somewhat, that the ulcers are responding, notice he didn't say GONE, I will be on TPN 2 more months, unless Dr Needleman, my real surgeon, overruled it . So since he did dialate me, go home and try something p.o. and see how things work -HaHa- made some thin mashed potatoes, stayed down less than half an hour, and we were off to the races again. And puke and s)ime for an hour or so. This morning right subcostal pain, which Dr N told me is my jujenal ulcerations romping and stomping, dad-burn medical doofus woke them up again. Oh I guess, bottom line, I am somewhat grateful, after all I am al8ve and kicking, but 2 more months or so? I did want to be tube-free for my 1/2 year anniversary in March and now it may not happen. My weight loss has slowed down, but I am healthier, 3 pounds in a month, but my " golden honeymoon: of weight loss is being spent on artificial diet. But I shall endure, stay in a positive frame of mind as much as permitted, and I will win this war, for I still am in it to win it, and I Shall. I still think I resemble road kill, I don't look now like me, just a bunch of dead relatives but maybe when I lose enough, guys will look at my body instead of my wrecked face anyway!

from now on😥