Hi.

I'm Deb from N. Carolina. I started this whole process back in August after a visit to my regular doctor. After way too many years of yo-yo dieting and never getting the job done, it's all caught up to me. Now I'm heavier than I've ever been, my BP is on the rise and so is my cholesterol. My arthritis is terrible in my knees and ankles. I retired a couple years ago and I hate it because I can't do any of the things my husband and I talked about doing at this time in our lives. It's time to move forward.....

My surgery is scheduled for Nov.11th. I'm excited and scared at the same time. I'm hoping that others that are getting ready to have their surgery in November might be interested in connecting to create a support group. Let's make this journey together and be there to support one another no matter where we live or what our ages may be.

I've been looking at many of the other discussions and some are great, but I have a hard time keeping up with all of them in different places. I'm wondering if a group like this would make it easier to keep tract of whatever we want to talk about.

What do you think????

I look forward to hearing from folks.

Deb

surgery tomorrow morning and I'm amazed at how nervous I've become. heading out to get things for my hospital stay. also trying to stick to the liquid diet for today. wish me luck!!!!

@@mzjaejeffery - Good luck with everything tomorrow! It's perfectly normal to be nervous, but I am sure you are in good hands. You will be on the other side before you know it!

@@carriekos I had a drain that I came home with it was removed about a week after I came home...... it was very hard to shower with or do anything but it gets better keep your head up !!!

I had mine on the 18th, spent two and a half days in the hospital. I'm still on my stage 2 which is full liquid diet. And I believe it will be the end of me as I know it! I just want warm food! Warm chewable food. One egg or maybe some vegi soup with the vegis stil IN the soup! It's driving me insane... Just a lot.

@@ready2B thanks

I had mine on the 18th, spent two and a half days in the hospital. I'm still on my stage 2 which is full liquid diet. And I believe it will be the end of me as I know it! I just want warm food! Warm chewable food. One egg or maybe some vegi soup with the vegis stil IN the soup! It's driving me insane... Just a lot.

Hang in there. After 2 weeks of pre-op liquids another 2 weeks post op is hard. At least it has been for me too. I'll be 2 weeks out this coming Tuesday. By this past Friday I*thought I'd loose it if I didn't have something other than sweet protein shakes, and liquids. Even chicken or beef broth didn't cut it. Friday night I finally opened a can of real chicken noodle soup, tossed the noodles, pureed the chicken and carrots and put it back into the broth. I took my time and it went down fine. Yesterday I had a tiny snack cup of applesauce, and today I had some yoghurt. Everythings OK. When I see the nutritionist on Tuesday she's going to tell me to go ahead and start pureed, but I'm ahead of her. . I'm hoping that by Thanksgiving I can at least manage a taste of mashed potatoes, a little turkey pureed with some gravy. and maybe a spoon of mushy green bean casserole. I'm not cooking, my daughter in law is, and she's all worried about me starving to death.

Oh, about the drain....mine was removed right before they discharged me too. I agree that it was one of the weirdest sensation I've ever had.

Ok had surgery 13th of November but I'm supposed to be on full liquids this week until Wednesday but I'm drinking homemade soup, gatorade (for lack of previous dehydration), jello, and sips of water. I'm extremly full with just an oz of liquid

The drain is a pain. Can't wait until Tuesday when it comes out. Do we really have to do two full weeks of liquids post op? I'm hoping the Dr. will say I can have pureed come Tuesday. This will make Thanksgiving so much easier. I just want a spoonful of sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes. Then I will be good.

I made sugar free chocolate pudding today with a scoop of my chocolate protein powder. came out tasting just fine.

dole makes a spicy black bean and corn cream soup that I added some unjury chicken broth flavored protein to, again really good.

Here's my update....

I'm 6 days post op (surgery was Monday Nov 17). I am doing really great. I was released the next day after surgery. I am meeting my protein/water goals, can tolerate multivitamins, taste buds have NOT changed (though I was hoping they would) and I can tolerate sweet things-- like my Unjury chocolate splendor shake, but I've never really had a sweet tooth and much prefer the chicken flavor protein. I have plenty of energy and have been running errands and walking around. I even did a tour at the Pentagon with my mom. My main issue has been the constant gas/burp pain. I really wish I can burp or fart on command, sorry if its too much TMI. Also, my left incision hurts, but what hurts the MOST is two bruises that I have on my lower abdomen (no incisions there just bruises). If I move too quickly, it feels like someone is pulling or tugging and stabbing me at the same time. Though Tylenol seems to work on them.

I had people tell me that the first week is really depressing and you will feel like "what the heck have I done to my body?!!" However, I have not experienced ANY of that. Though the sucky part right now is the liquid diet stage AND the drain. I can't wait to have this thing removed tomorrow. Also, I really wish I could have something solid, a piece of egg or canned salmon. Maybe some yogurt. I envy those people that had no desire for food or water after surgery.

As far as weight..... I was 216.6 day of surgery, 222 when I got home from the hospital (IV liquids, swollen). And as of today, I was 210.

So far I am so happy that I went through with the surgery and there are no regrets.

The drain is a pain. Can't wait until Tuesday when it comes out. Do we really have to do two full weeks of liquids post op?

My NUT said that if I continued to do good, that I could start having yogurt this Monday. ::fingers crossed:: So that would be 1 week and not 2 weeks.

Edited November 24, 201411 yr by bluedreams86

Fingers and Toes crossed, good luck.

My doc recommends 7-10 days full liquid after, then puréed/soft. I had surgery on 13 th and since I've moved to soft/puréed it's much easier....more choices.

My doc recommends 7-10 days full liquid after, then puréed/soft. I had surgery on 13 th and since I've moved to soft/puréed it's much easier....more choices.

I've been on liquids almost a full week, I've been dying to go to pureed! I wonder why there is so many variations of the post op diet?

I'm nervous about the pureed food ...will it taste gross??..I had baby food turkey flavor couldn't do it lol

I'm nervous about the pureed food ...will it taste gross??..I had baby food turkey flavor couldn't do it lol

It also includes soft scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt, mashed potatoes, etc