Still hungry but looser pants!

I am still really hungry in between meals but I am trying to eat pretty good. I didn't eat so good this weekend, too many sweets.

Friday night I wore a pair of jeans I haven't worn in awhile and they were even a tiny bit loose! Today I have on a pair of dress pants that I couldn't wear because they were too tight in the waist and legs, but they fit great today!

I have been missing caffeine. I have only had caffeine a few times (once when I was driving 3 hours and I was very tired, and once when I ordered a latte and forgot to ask for decaf, another time when I needed some caffeine so I wouldn't fall asleep in class) and I've had a few small glasses of soda here and there, so it's tough. All in all, I think I've had coffee 3 times and less than probably 32 oz of soda in over a month.

I am having to learn how to eat in restaurants. I haven't eaten out a lot since surgery, but I am learning that I cannot share an appetizer and eat a meal too. If I eat any of an appetizer (even what I feel like isn't a large amount) I can only eat a few bites of my food. This happened on Saturday. I took my meal home and had 2 meals from it the next day. I am just worried about eating Mexican because 1. I love Mexican food and 2. I love chips and salsa. I hope I don't just fill up on chips and salsa and not be able to eat my meal. Of course, I can take it home and eat it later. The only time I would not be able to do that is if I was traveling or wouldn't be able to get it into a fridge within an hour or so. If that's the case, I will have to either say no to an appetizer or I will have to just have a small side of soup or something if I eat the appetizer.

Tuesday, April 9

I have been sooooo hungry the past few days. Last week I did ok on my liquidy diet (except a few things) but I haven't been as good since last week. I have kind of been eating whatever, still a lot of liquidy foods, and small portions, but things not on my allowable list. I am really tired of eating liquid foods. It has really gotten old.

I did have some caffeine the other night. I had an iced coffee. I was so tired driving back home after being on th road and being busy all day Friday. I've had a few sips of soda here and there, because I've been craving it bad. Drinking water (even flavored) is really boring. I can have decaf tea, thank goodness, or I would go crazy.

So far I've done ok with the food I've eaten, no bad side effects. I'm suppose to switch to a different diet starting tomorrow, with small portions of protein and either a fruit or vegetable, which is awesome (no more soup!).

I am also going to try the elliptical today to build up some more of my cardio. I can tell I am out of shape from not being able to workout and then only being able to walk really slow after surgery. I need to get in shape!

I've lost about 10 lbs so far. Some of my pants are a tiny bit looser, but not a lot. I am well on my way!!

6 days post-op and first day back to work

The past 4-5 days have been pretty uneventful and not too difficult. I have been doing good with eating my soups and liquids and haven't had too much pain. I had some upper back pain yesterday but that may have just been from sleeping weird.

But today was my first day back to work. It's an easy day and not a long one. Tomorrow will be more hectic and longer, as I have class and won't be home til probably 9:30 p.m. and will have to leave about 7:45 a.m.

I woke up feeling nauseous, which is weird because I haven't felt that way since I woke up at the hospital. I took some anti-nausea medicine and it seems to have helped. I am also more hungry than I have been any other day. I am REALLY craving a soda. I know I can't have one, so I won't, but that won't stop the craving. I ate my tomato soup for lunch and it was way more filling than I figured it would be. I am definitely full.

I need to be better prepared at work from now on, I need to bring some of my mix-ins for water because drinking plain water all day gets old. I do have a protein shake for a snack later this afternoon.

My tummy is also itchy, I guess the wounds are healing and that's why. I haven't had a pain pill since before bed last night and I don't feel like I need one. I am getting sleepy though.

Otherwise, everything is good back at work. Just trying to get caught up.

3-4 days post op

Nothing really new to report. My appetite is better and I'm trying to distinguish between real hunger and not real hunger. Watching tv commercials makes me think I'm hungry when I'm not. But so far, so good.

I went to the grocery store and spent less than $30 and that food should last me almost the rest of my time on this 2 week diet. I have 10 days left on it. After that i will switch to a soft foods diet for a few weeks. I'm amazed at how little food it takes to fill me up. I am supposed to have meals consisting of 4 oz of liquidy foods. Have you ever measured 4 oz of milk? Yeah, it's not much. Neither is 4 oz of soup. Earlier I wanted a treat so I had 2 powdered donuts soaked for awhile in 4 oz of milk. It was a tiny amount of food but it filled me up. Earlier I had a tall (small) decaf sugar-free vanilla latte from Starbucks and it was almost too much.

It is hard trying to stay hydrated. I am used to gulping water, which I can't do anymore. I have to sip. I also can't have fluids when I start eating. Those are both tough and I am going to have to get used to them as I progress.

I went for longer than 6 hrs for taking my pain medicine and I slept better last night. I was worried about going back to work on Tuesday but I think I will be ready.

The kitties have been really sweet. They lay by me and purr, which is soothing and they have been on pretty good behavior.

First full day post op

Yesterday was my first full day post-op. My tummy was pretty sore and I had some diaphragm and upper back/shoulder pains here and there. The pain medicine helps with most of that. I usually only take 1 pill every 6 hours, but I can take 1 or 2 so last night I took 2 around 6 pm. It helped but also made me kinda dizzy.

I took my first shower after taking the bandages off. The wounds are actually smaller than I thought and look pretty good. I was really scared of taking a shower, so I just made it pretty quick, but it felt so good!

I had one 4 oz protein shake (have you ever actually seen how small 4 oz of any drink is? it's tiny), about 3 oz of ice cream and 3 oz of mashed potatoes. That's all I really felt like eating. I will try some yogurt, applesauce, and soup today for meals and protein shakes in between. I am still not very hungry but when I am, a little bit of food makes me satisfied.

I am doing pretty well overall, it was nice of the hospital to call and check on me yesterday. My mom and Will have been very helpful in taking care of me and Brandy has helped and answered some of my questions for me. My other friends and coworkers have been checking in too and it all means a lot to me :)

First day post op - March 28

Today is my first full day after surgery. My tummy is more sore than yesterday and I still don't have much of an appetite. The pain in my sternum/breastbone and upper back is pretty much gone, except a little twinge near my diaphragm once in awhile. It feels much better though. The pain is still not as bad as I thought it could be. I am trying to move around some too, tomorrow I might go for a short walk.

My diet for the next two weeks consists of:

Breakfast 4 oz of soupy-type food (yogurt, pudding, soup, oatmeal, soggy cereal, etc)
Snack 4 oz of protein shake
Lunch 4 oz of soupy-type food (same types as above)
Snack 4 oz of protein shake
Dinner 4 oz of soupy-type food (same as above)

I was really excited to eat some normal food, so I ate 3 oz of ice cream earlier and it tasted so good. I also had my 4 oz of protein shake. As I mentioned yesterday, the Hy-Vee vanilla carmel swirl is so good, mixed with 1% milk. I know the protein is very important for healing, so I am going to try to make sure to get those in even if I'm not very hungry.

I am going to take off my bandages and take a shower soon. I am scared about that, but they said I could after 24 hours and a shower will feel so good.

I am also trying to stay hydrated, sipping water is a challenge as I am used to gulping it. I also need to remember to not drink during meals or 20 minutes after, that is a big change.

Surgery Day March 27

First of all, thank you everyone for your prayers and positive support though this process. I am so glad I made this decision and am excited for the journey ahead!

My surgery was yesterday. My mom and I left my house around 5 to get to Boone Hospital in Columbia by 6:30. Caffeine would have been nice, but I am off caffeine and couldn't have anything to drink anyway. I'm glad my surgery was early because I would have been really hungry if I would have had to wait til later.

They took me back around 6:45 or so and got me set up in my room. The hooked my IV, which she numbed so it didn't hurt. I got a shot in my side of blood thinners and that did sting and burn for a  few mins. I loved when they put the warm blankets on top of me because I have been so cold lately (and still am!)

The surgeon came in and was pretty to the point. He asked if I had any questions and we had a few but I told him that I hoped the worst part was the 10 day pre-op diet. He said it probably was but didn't even ask if I did it, or if I cheated, or anything! I never heard if my liver looked good (that was one of the points of the diet, to shrink the liver) but I will ask next time I see him.

I got an anti-nausea pill with a sip of water, which tasted wonderful. Mom and I chatted and watched tv until the anestiologist came and gave me propofol and whatever else. I remember being wheeled back for surgery and they strapped my feet in then each arm. Then I was out. I think before surgery they also gave me something to help calm me so I felt pretty good. My blood pressure was good while I was waiting to go back too, I was surprised as nervousness usually makes it higher.

I woke up in recovery and the nurses were letting my know where I was. I felt really nauseous so they  gave me something for that but it hung around a while before I felt better. They did an x-ray to make sure the band was placed right and that hurt a little to roll around. I was kinda in and out until they took me to short stay area and my mom came back. Everything was a little fuzzy for awhile, but I remember I kept asking what time it was (that's totally me).

The nurse gave me a medicine cup of ice cubes and said if I kept them down for one hour, I could have 2 medicine cups for another hour or if I felt good, I could go home. Mom gave me my glasses, which helped me see better and I started feeling less drowsy. I was in and out a little bit but after the hour was up, I was ready to see if I could go home. Mom helped me get dressed and the nurse helped me to the bathroom. I asked for another sip of water (I was so thirsty!) and it was probably the best water ever. They got me a wheelchair and a nice man wheeled me out. It was about noon at this time, so I was in and out in less than 6 hours.

Everyone was so attentive and friendly at the hospital. The doctors were pretty quick and straightforward (but nice too) but that's what I expected from them usually. I would recommend Boone Hospital highly!

I kinda napped a little on the ride home and told my mom to stop at the mall at one store she wanted to go into and I stayed in the car. I was worried about nausea on the way home but it wasn't a problem. We stopped to get my pain medicine and I walked around Gerbes slowly but felt ok. I started to feel a little yucky right before we left and I was happy to be getting home to my own bed.

I couldn't fall asleep when we got home right away so I just walked around a little and lied down too. My sternum/breastbone and my upper back have given me the worst pain. I knew to expect that. It has something to do with the gas they pump you with when they do something laparoscopically and something with your diaphragm. My tummy didnt hurt except the abs when I would lie down or sit up (kinda like when you do a tough ab workout, nothing bad). The pain overall has not been unbearable. I have definitely had worse pain.

I wasn't hungry at all. I was trying to rehydrate myself because my calves were a little cramps because of the lack of fluids. I ate a few Popsicles to help with my scratchy throat. I had been coughing off and on all day because of the tube that was in my throat. Will brought a few movies for me and mom to watch but I was falling asleep in the couch so I went to bed at 9. I woke up at 11 to take my medicine again. I can only really sleep in 2-3 hour increments but that's ok.

I get to eat some real food around noon. By real food, I mean soupy or liquids food and only 2-4 ounces but I am excited! After 10 days of broth, Popsicles, jello, protein shakes (which were actually good, the Hy-Vee vanilla Carmel swirl powder is awesome!), I am ready for some yogurt, pudding, soup, etc. I did cheat some during my 10 day diet, but I was about 85-90% compliant, so I am ready for some different foods! I also get to shower around noon.

Thank you everyone again for your thoughts, prayers, and positive support. It makes me realize thati have a lot of people who care about me. I will keep posting updates so check back when you can.

I did the dreaded weigh-in and before pictures but I will wait to post them when I have some good after stats to report!