Pre-op diet sabotage...

[theantichick 2,204]

So I'm already incredibly lucky that my doc doesn't do a full liquid or even low carb pre-op diet. I'm supposed to have 2-3 shakes a day, plus a "healthy dinner" and can have "healthy snacks" if I just have to eat something. She said there's no specific calorie or carb limit. I'm trying to even figure out what she's trying to accomplish. (I know, I should have asked... hindsight and all that)

I'm on day 3 of 14. Day 1 was rough. I had a Protein Bar instead of one of my shakes, and my dinner wasn't as healthy as I'm sure she meant, but I thought that wasn't too bad. Day 2 was better. Doesn't help that I have to be off my meds for psoriatic arthrtitis, so I'm hurting pretty badly and can't do crafts or the things that would distract me. Have been doing OK today, less headachey and less hungry.

BUT.

We have to drive 45 minutes directly after work to pick up my step-daughter. We always get caught in heavy traffic, and usually stop for dinner in order to miss some of the traffic and feed the starving kiddo (she's got a high metabolism and is ALWAYS hungry). He mentioned something about Taco Bueno (SD's favorite restaurant in the world) when he dropped me off at work this morning. I told him I can't possibly find something healthy at Bueno. He said we'd figure something out. Kiddo's pretty picky, and will be starving when we pick her up. I'm going to be starving and in a crappier mood than I am now. If we then have to drive an hour home (or more) in traffic without eating, it's going to get ugly.

Mind you, hubby has been awesome. He doesn't want to do the liquid diet with me (and who can blame him) but he's working to keep crap food out of the house and fix healthy foods, and is doing tons to support me. This isn't a gripe fest about hubby. If I say we can't stop, we won't stop. Or if I say that I can only eat out if we go to X restaurant, he'll go along with it.

So.

I'm trying to figure out the best way to handle this. Find a restaurant that has better fare like Applebee's and then just exercise superhuman strength to not order what I am craving? Pop a Protein Bar in my purse (I keep a stash at work) and eat it at the restaurant while they have food I can't have? Say "screw it" and enjoy?

I know that I'm far enough out from surgery that this realistically just isn't going to make that much of a difference. But it makes me feel like a complete failure if I can't keep on a diet even for just 2 weeks. Like maybe I'm not nearly as prepared for this as I think I am. I said from the beginning that it was the pre-op diet that had me more worried than any other part. I don't want to just say "screw it". I also don't want to rationalize my way into eating something and claiming it's allowed just because the doc's instructions are vague.

What would you do? (Restaurant and menu selection suggestions welcome.)

[magtart 603]

A chicken fajita taco and a side salad would be better than Applebee's.

[suzzzzz 1,005]

Now is a great time to practice for when you are sleeved. I have learned to take a bottle of Water and protien bar with me because if I get too hungry I eat too fast and then can't eat much. If that makes sense. As far as eating out Mexican food is very doable. You can eat the insides of enchiladas, burritos or tacos. Get fajitas and don't eat the tortillas or have tortilla Soup or ta combination salad. I eat out a lot and just had to make a commitment to myself to do what I need to do.

You can do this. I have never eaten at taco bueno, but I bet you can find something. It may not be ideal but nothing really is unless you make all your own meals. Oh, I forgot to say to go ahead and eat half a protien bar during your 45 minute car ride then maybe you can not give in so easily to the not so good stuff.

[KristenLe 5,980]

@@theantichick I haven't been to Taco Bueno but I assume they have some menu items that you could eat without guilt. Use this as your first test - you may find you enjoy a healthier option and feel great about being able to resist temptation. Good luck!

[theantichick 2,204]

Heh. I forget that other places don't have Buenos. It's a fast food joint like Taco Bell, but better quality and better tasting food IMHO.

I honestly didn't even think about something like fajitas, since I normally don't even look at their platter meals. I checked the online menu, and they have a fajita platter there, and the Mongol Horde that is my family (yes, two of them still constitutes a Horde) will happily eat anything from my plate that I can't.

See, this is why I hang out at places like this. I tend to tunnel vision on stuff and fret about it.

I'm glad that I did my fretting before the fact though, and got a plan in place.

Thanks!!

[beautiful_alarms 12]

I apologize for not being helpful, but I just wanted to say that I also have PsA and am worried about possibly withholding treatment. I'll be having surgery in a few weeks, and so far have had to only stop daily prednisone and birth control, which I take continuously to avoid the wicked flares that come with hormone fluctuations. I was on NSAIDs too but had to stop those almost a year ago due to unrelenting gastritis. I'm also on weekly methotrexate and Remicade infusions every 5 weeks (just had it today.) I'm already miserable without the daily prednisone and BC! What's your treatment involve and what is your expected amount of time off of it? I'd imagine that if I have to stop the methotrexate that it'll be before my next dose is due (I see my surgeon on the 10th to talk about this stuff and schedule surgery) and I'm super worried about not being able to deal with a pause in therapy.

[theantichick 2,204]

I was on sulfasalazine with some relief. I had to stop it 3 weeks before. But we are moving to biologics as soon as I'm far enough post op. It's the PsA that prompted me to get serious about the surgery. If I did it after biologics started I'd be without treatment for over 6 months. Now it will only be 4 or so. My doc can also put me back on the sulfasalazine after a month until I'm clear for the biologics.

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[beautiful_alarms 12]

I was on sulfasalazine with some relief. I had to stop it 3 weeks before. But we are moving to biologics as soon as I'm far enough post op. It's the PsA that prompted me to get serious about the surgery. If I did it after biologics started I'd be without treatment for over 6 months. Now it will only be 4 or so. My doc can also put me back on the sulfasalazine after a month until I'm clear for the biologics.

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I've been on biologics (Remicade) for over 3 years. I tried Enbrel first but while it cleared up my psoriasis (I have palmoplantar ps which is stupid and weird) it did NOTHINGGGG for my arthritis. While the biologics have some scary implications because they're relatively new in the overall scope of things, I must say that Remicade has worked really very well for me. Luckily, I saw my rheumatologist two days ago and had the final consult with my surgeon this morning and I won't have to pause the Remicade - I just have to have the surgery in the middle of my infusion schedule.. since I get it every 5 weeks and just had it last week, this means that my surgery is scheduled for NEXT WEEK (whaaaaaat)! I do, however, have to hold my weekly methotrexate for one week, which isn't that big of a deal.

Anyways, that was a lot of babbling for me to basically say that Remicade has worked so well for me - from total disability at age 34 to (relateively) normal functioning now. Some days are still bad, and I still have flares that can last a couple of weeks, but Remicade has seriously been a lifesaver. Good luck to you with surgery and the change in your therapy that will be coming soon - I wish you success and PsA remission.

[heidikat72 935]

I don't have PsA but wanted to say for the oral birth control I had to stop a couple weeks before surgery as well and was cleared to go back on it 6 weeks after surgery - at that point the threat of blood clots was reduced enough. Your surgeon/nurse should be able to tell you how long you'll be off each med.

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

I love Taco Bueno and I don't even like Mexican food really.

Get the Tex Mex Bowl and order it with no rice.

chicken or Quesadilla, and just eat the meat and the cheese.

You can eat at any restaurant really. Order a sandwich, just eat the meat. Order a salad with Protein, just eat the Protein.< /p>

It isn't hard you just have to change how you think.

Pre-op the issue is going to be, eating like this is not going to make you full but you might as well practice eating to be satisfied and not full now.

Edited August 10, 2016 by OutsideMatchInside

[theantichick 2,204]

I don't have PsA but wanted to say for the oral birth control I had to stop a couple weeks before surgery as well and was cleared to go back on it 6 weeks after surgery - at that point the threat of blood clots was reduced enough. Your surgeon/nurse should be able to tell you how long you'll be off each med.

Oh, trust me, when you have an auto-immune condition, you work through all of this with multiple specialists. It's a balancing act. Depending on what kind of med you're on, the time off before and after surgery changes. It's because our meds depress our immune system and slow down healing. The PsA meds are the reason once I decided on the surgery, I needed to get it done ASAP to reduce how long I'm without my PsA meds. But there's no way around time off at least some of them.