2018 November Chat

Good Morning, Peeps! Time to move to the December chat thread! See ya there!

Blessings,
Linda

Hey Everyone,

Have a wonderful day!!!

Take care!!!

Cassie

Hey Everyone,

WOW, I have been MIA for too long. I will hopefully do better. I haven't been receiving notices as we have discussed numerous times here. I don't know how to correct, but will try.

I agree with Linda about the aftercare. I told my surgeon I wanted to see him every 6 months, and he agreed to it since I felt I needed it. I went this past April, and told him it was my 10th surgerversery, and I wouldn't be back unless I needed him.

He kept me with a Nutritionist when needed, and we had group meetings every week so I felt like I had a good support system. However the after surgery is more about the changes and challenges you have, and how you deal with them.

The saggy skin is part of it. I haven't had any skin removal, even though I need it. My insurance won't pay for it, so here I am. One day I may at least have a tummy tuck and my arms done, but I have been saying that for 10 years. Where has the time gone!!!!

I'm glad y'all are here doing well, and getting to know everyone.

Take care!!!

Cassie

Happy Thanksgiving!

That would be 1/4 cup of food

Also, I'm doing really well with soft scrambled eggs - but I know that not everyone can do eggs this early. Yesterday I had an egg with 1TBL of mashed avocado - YUM!

Edited by: CWALSH03 at: 11/17/2018 (15:36)

Hey JCERNEK! I'm about 3 weeks post op. Every doc is different (I looked at 3 different practices and each had different recommendations post surgery) - so your rules may be different. Right now, I'm on pureed foods and eating about 1/4 cup of food at each "meal". They say at least 2 TBL of protein and 2 TBL of pureed veggies. Note that I dont eat poultry or beef. My day typically looks like:

Wake up - some sort of protein shake
AM - drink water/tea
Lunch - 3 TBL pureed black beans with 1 TBL reduced fat cheese baked on top
Afternoon - water + 1 protein drink (ususally Syntrax Nectar lemonade)
Dinner - 1/4 serving of ricotta bake + 2 TBL of veggies
After dinner - tea or water

I also have made a schedule for my meds. Some of them were able to be put in liquid form, which really helps take them. Maybe check with your doctor (the one who prescribed the meds, not your surgeon) to see if that's possible? Also, make sure that your pills CAN be cut in half - one of mine physically could but it affected the effectiveness. Again, check with your prescribing doc

Some other foods I'm liking: Oikos Tripple Zero Yogurt, Cottage Cheese, Pureed sweet potato, pureed sauteed spinach, pureed green beans (don't love these), pureed lentils (but these don't have much protein)

Good luck!





Edited by: CWALSH03 at: 11/16/2018 (21:39)

TABIKATZZ, I wish I had a magic answer for you concerning the skin issues. In addition to all the variables your mentioned, I think a lot also depends on your age, how overweight you have been and for how long. In my case, I was 59 when I had the surgery and well over 300 lbs. I had been morbidly obese for years and the elasticity was pretty much gone from my skin. After losing 190 lbs, I pretty much looked like my bones were in a sack of skin that was much too big! I finally did have the excess skin on my stomach removed because insurance would pay for that, but I've left everything else as-is because I'm not willing to pay for that much cosmetic surgery. I have focused on getting my life back and I AM happy with what I see in the mirror as long as I have clothes on! LOL Of course, at my age, I'm not too interested in impressing anyone.

Blessings,
Linda

Hey JCERNEK, sorry no one got back to you before now. For some reason we’ve all gone pretty quiet and we used to be chattering non-stop. Anyway, I’ll try to be helpful where I can.

First of all, my surgery was about 9 ½ years ago and it was textbook perfect, so I didn’t experience the kinds of problems you are having. In fact, I left Texas (where I live) and traveled by RV to Florida only two weeks after surgery (with my surgeons’ permission and some special requirements to meet). Anyway, in those days this group was very chatty, and I got most of my concerns addressed by this group since I was so far from my doc. I really hope someone can speak to these particular issues you’re having.

As far as the soup goes (and other foods as well), it really is touch-and-go and taking baby steps to find out what you can tolerate and what you can’t. As far as my experience goes, amounts are going to be very small in the beginning and you’ll probably wonder how you can stay alive on such tiny amounts of nourishment, but you will survive! It’s a bit worrisome in the beginning because you are so inexperienced, and you’ll need to go through lots of trial-and-error to discover what works for you. To this day I do much better with foods that are room temperature; hot foods just don’t sit well in my stomach. Lots of people have the exact opposite experience and find they do better with hot food as opposed to cold. Those things you will just have to discover for yourself. Also, for some reason that makes no sense to me, some foods and tastes that have been your life-long favorites may just turn you off now and/or even be rejected by your system or make you feel sick if you eat them.

You are right about the restrictions on drinking, but you are still expected to get adequate amounts of food in you and/or take medications. Be patient with the medication issues, they will get better with time. I can now pop an entire fistful of meds with a swallow of water and never split or crush anything. In the beginning, however, I had to be careful and when I got my morning meds down, I would literally be full until about 3 in the afternoon. All I can say is try to relax. I fretted and worried so much in the beginning about not meeting protein, fiber and water goals that I made myself miserable. You do need to do your best and it’s very important to stay hydrated, but don’t hesitate to call your surgeon and/or your NUT (nutritionist) with questions or concerns.

Final words: If your surgeon isn’t giving you the listening ear you need, perhaps your NUT will. It is very hard in the beginning and very important that you follow the surgeon’s orders. You will also discover that different surgeons follow different protocols. Most folks are able to have confidence in their medical team and work with them. I hope you can resolve your pain issues and get to a good place with your team. Don’t give up on us; we may be a bit slow to respond, but we’re here with lots of various experience to help where we can. I DO NOT REGRET A MOMENT OF MY JOURNEY! Best of luck!

Blessings,
Linda


Edited by: SHESPEAKS at: 11/8/2018 (14:11)

So today was my first attempt at a "Cream of Soup". I was so excited to finally have a flavor in my mouth! Boy, did that go poorly! I don't even know if I should count it on my food tracker. So in the future, do I avoid the flavor, or the soup, altogether?? It was Chicken, Maybe I should go with the veggie style ones initially?

I am also having some harsh feelings about my Doctor. I don't feel I am receiving the after care I should be getting. I have mentioned the severe bruising from the Lovonox Bridge, and now I have some really bad pain from said bruising, and the surgical sites, combined. When I called her and asked about a few additional pain pills to help me through, I was treated rather roughly. The RX was to take Tylenol, LOL I laughed! I'm a tough chick, I can take pain. Tylenol will not help, and I really have to be hurting to even ask for something. I'd post pic's but I don't wish to shock!

The diet guidelines they have given me to follow, have no measurements on them. Its just like a feel your way through kind of thing. Does this sound screwy to any one else?

Last thing, I take alot of meds, and have been told that anything larger than an M&M should be cut in half. So thats a total of 20 + pills a day including the new ones they have given me for after surgery. We are not to be drinking 30 min before meals and 45 min after, I feel like there are not enough hours in the day to sip and take pills.

Any words of wisdom out there???
Anyone????

I've read alot of good things about Coconut oil, Olive oil, and Avocado oil, as far as skin repair and moisturizing. You might want to look into them. There are also tons of ideas on Pintrest.

Hi guys! Surgery went well, nothing to worry about, not a hitch! My daughter had me all worked up for no reason. Although I am really bruised from the anti-coagulants I had to take prior to surgery, and my torso is very tender. So now we learn how to eat all over again. It's kind of funny sitting back and watching my family scramble to cook their own meals! LOL I refuse to cook for them. New rule.....If I can't eat it, you must cook it yourself!

Hey everyone and Happy November! I'm on day 2 of my pre-op diet. I'm traveling this weekend to see a friend so it will be tough. I have lots of protein powder packed along with water!

Any tips to tightening skin after surgery? This is one of my biggest concerns, I don't want to have plastic surgery down the road (it takes me forever to heal and I would have scars forever) I know that everyone is different and everyone's skin is different. I plan to do yoga and exercise of course as well as dry brushing and keeping my skin hydrated with lotion and drinking my fluids. Anything specific you did that really helped? I want to be healthier and lose the weight but I also want to like what I see when I look in the mirror naked! lol

Hey Everyone!!!

Happy November!!!

All Saints Day too!!!!

Can't believe another year is closing down.

Take care!!!!

Cassie

Hey guys, lets try to do better this month at staying in touch! Miss you all.

Blessings,
Linda