Fred in Pa

I bought a large binder with dividers and kept everything organized. Test results, meeting notes, program details, Dr appts, daily weights, diets, to do lists, etc. I took it to every meeting, appt. This may help…

Have you tried an enema? That may clear the impaction and get the trains moving again.

I found chewable without iron. I’m adding iron later. They are Celebrate multi-ADEK. Can be bought here in store. While I am ok taking pills, these are like a little treat after a meal.

Prayers for you and s speedy recovery to normal…

I take a seasoned tuna packet with crushed cannelloni beans…very yummy. Mix in some low fat mayo. Starkist has tuna creation packets and our local had sesame with ginger tuna packets.

Did your team give you a pre-op plan? Mine was liquid with a small meal for dinner; 3-4oz protein, 1/4 cup carb/starch, unlimited non-starch veggies. That was days 1-9. Day 10 was 100 liquids.

So, out of surgery, they gave me Dilaudid. Second day in hospital was Toridol. I was sent home with Oxycodone. They said the oxy was for the nerve pain. I was also told to take 1000mg of Tylenol every 4-6 hours and not to miss a dose, let it build up. The Tylenol was for the muscle cramps and pressure. There is regular liquid Tylenol you may want to try. I was off the Oxy quick as I had no incision pain and didn’t want to get constipated as narcotics slow your digestion. I kept up with the Tylenol for a few more days until pressure subsided. By day 3-4, on nothing for pain. The gas-x I still take as the broths, protein shakes, etc can give gas. I take one in both am and pm. They also recommended Colace to keep stool soft.

LOTS OF GOOD INFO ABOVE… I’ll just add, I plan to try to create better “habits”. Read up on habits, it’s very interesting how the mind works. Use the time of reduced hunger to form new habits. Like omrhsn says above, explore new foods that are healthy. Make finding new foods and ways to prepare a hobby/habit. Or maybe geek out a bit with journaling, logging, charting your food and food weights, recipes, body measurements, eating times, etc. Make this a habit.

So if your pancreas isn’t working, you’re type 1 diabetic? Wouldn’t that be a bigger problem over diarrhea?

There is a three week stall that everyone talks about. I’ve thought about this and another fact that the body “initially” heals in 3-4 weeks. It makes sense to me that the 3-4 week time is when the body is slowing the heal and trying to shift back to maintaining the rest of the body. Then, coming from a calorie deficit, it tries to add weight back on. I’d also say 500cals is too low, your body may be sensing starvation. Did you team recommend this low of a calorie count?

I felt the same way about beer. I never drank a lot, but a nice beer with the right food combo will be missed. I loved to have a Pilsner with dry cheese and bread, yummy.

Well done! You got this. It’s not easy but your team is there to help and it looks like they did! I wish you luck in your surgery Friday, I will be sure to say a prayer.

I see a few things… Like Summerseeker says, you are most likely ok but need to get that liver shrunk. So I’m sure your surgery will go fine as long as no more cheats. The issue I see is that the plan leading up to surgery ( classes, consults, Dr appts, etc) are to get you mind ready for this. Not only before but after surgery. Pizza and cake this close to the big day should be looked at with some introspection. Think back on why you cheated. Really think. Because if you cheat in these last days, you may cheat early later. Make sure it’s not a pattern and just a little glitch heading in to surgery.

I love innovation. It’s thinkers that get new procedures developed for patient success. On your new idea: Reversal seems like it would be very difficult. Stitching back all that stomach? I don’t see hunger/ satiation changing. That leftover piece would still be demanding food? Could you get blockage up into that leftover piece of stomach? Other than reversal, are there any other benefits?

They had me taking pills from the day after surgery. I found this odd, but as long as a sip took them down, it was fine. They did say I could crush if I had issues at home. Pharmacies sell plastic pill cutters that have a cutter on one end and a crusher on the other. I cut my larger ones like my 320mg Diovan, it’s a monster. At the hospital, they gave me two 160’s, which were smaller to take. Once crushed, you can mix it into a drink. I’d try a 1oz cup with the mixed in crushed pill.