Day 8 Update

[Smye 695]

So far so good (mostly)

Day 0: YAY! I FINALLY GOT SLEEVED! Too bad my IV blew out, but if this is my biggest complication, I can't complain

Day 1: I managed to get in 52 g of Protein and 67 oz of Fluid but...

Day 2: Nausea unlike anything I've ever experienced. It took emend, zophran, scop-patch AND phenergan just to let me breathe properly

Day 3: Felt much better, met protein and fluids goals. Stopped the hydromorphone

Day 4: Took 1/2 mile walk and felt pretty good.

Day 5: Took a 1.7 mile walk and felt even better, but gassy as all getout

Day 6: See day 5

Day 7: Went in for a 5-hour job interview/shadow. The interviewer had to leave 5 minutes in as an emergency came up(the joys of working in schools) but I learned a great deal about the position and enjoyed myself

Day 8: First post-op appointment - this is the part where it didn't go so well. Turns out that, as my doctor put it: "You're WAY overdoing it. None of our patients even tries to walk as much as you have or do a 5-hour anything at this point. I get that you're freakishly healthy for your weight and that it felt good, but no. Don't. Stop. No more than 1/8 mile at a time for the next 4 weeks. But great job on your fluid and protein."

I'm SO disappointed. I live in the woods on a lake so I can enjoy the world I live in. I live for my time around the lake and to give it up, even for this short time, is harder (for now) than giving up all the foods-centered time I'm glad to be rid of. But I know he's right and that I need to focus on healing and letting my body not run a GARGANTUAN calorie deficit, only a large one.

On the bright side, I managed to eat 1/4 c of applesauce, 1/4 cup of FF homemade 'refried' Beans with Protein powder added, and am going to try 1/4 c of blended chicken salad shortly. So far no problems. YUM! I will say though, the applesauce felt weirdly huge in my mouth after fluids all week.

Oh, and my weight loss so far is totally excellent! I can absolutely tell a difference between my 3-weeks prior photo and my 1-week post photo. Like, huge.

Edited February 21, 2015 by Smye

[Willie108 2]

Yeah we should listen to our doctors. I feel pretty good as well and our surgery dates must be close to the same. I enjoyed reading your timeline. I figure after all the years of working hard I should be able to take it easy for a while and concentrate on my health for a change. I am fortunate I have not had any complications.

[MoosieGirl 25]

I'm so glad you're feeling so good! But the doctor is right. You must let your body heal.

Go for atrolls. Not walks. Walk a bit into the woods and the take a seat. Enjoy the nature around you. Maybe have picnics with your pureed yummies.

And congrats!

[Smye 695]

Thanks to both of you! @@MoosieGirl, that's where I got into trouble. I was just strolling - preop I was doing 3-4 laps/day at a pretty decent clip, so I figured one meandering lap was perfect

Oh, and the pureed chicken was a disaster, 1 tsp in and I was belching a storm and had terrible stomach pain. Since then, cottage cheese has been a huge success

[MoosieGirl 25]

I'm 13 days post-op. I do about a mile and a half at a "brisk" pace. I get in a lot more walking at a slower oace. My doc was okay with it but warned me not to overdo the brisk stuff. I could do the meandering all day long if life allowed it, he said. But I just can't meander all day long.

Good luck finding a compromise!!