BettyBoopVA

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Kierstin C. 24 years, 3 months ago

Betty, My surgeon recommends the following: Three meals a day No fluids for 15 minutes before, during, or for 90 minutes after a meal. This no fluids thing will keep you feeling full and keep the food in your stomach (they actually did studies on this one). It works for me. I notice a marked difference in my hunger level if I drink too soon after eating. It takes a while to get used to, but it works for me. Plus, this limits snacking if you are really concentrating on not drinking after eating and then trying to get your 64oz. of water in between meals. Hope this helps! Kierstin

Cindy V. 24 years, 3 months ago

Sounds like your doing fine I also had my surgery on 12-06-01 and as of 01-22-02 I have a loss of 36lbs. I had a different diet thatn what you have . The first week clear liquid, 2nd week full liquids, 3rd and 4 th week pureed ,5th week soft and 6th back to regular lowfat or sugarfree foods. No throwing up felt sick to my stomach one night but feeling great . Good Luck

davidmdoughty 24 years, 3 months ago

Betty- I'm so happy for you. Isn't great loosing weight and not even trying. So far I've lost 54lbs. This has been the hardest but at the same time the easiest diet that I've ever been on. I steel can not eat or drink anything. Next week I have to go in for a cat scan to see how the leak is doing. The nurses are telling now about how hard eating is most likely going to be on me being that I haven't eatten in almost 2 months. Today wasn't a very good day for me I got sick to my stomach and I have felt weaker over the last couple of days. Hopefully it will be over soon. Talk to you later, David :)

BettyBoopVA 24 years, 3 months ago

I went to my doctor today, have lost 27 pounds (6.5 weeks post-op) and I feel great! I'm so excited mainly because I don't feel like I've been dieting at all. I've been sick with the flu and a sinus infection for some of the time, so I haven't gotten all the exercise I've needed. I'm in the process of buying a new treadmill; this will be my 3rd treadmill since I've sold the previous two because of lack of use. I'm hoping with with my new found ability to lose weight and subsequent energy I'll be able to use this one. For anyone waiting on surgery or thinking about it I wholeheartedly recommend it. Much love to all and God Bless! wooooohooooooo.. I'm excited!

davidmdoughty 24 years, 3 months ago

Betty- It's soooo good to hear from you. Thank you for the nice letter and warm thought's. My prognosis is good. My surgon, main doctor, and the home health nurses can not beleive how well I'm doing. Yes, I still have my leak but I'm hoping that it is doing better. In 2 weeks I've to go for a cat scan to see how things are doing. You asked me how they found out that I had a leak? There were a number of things that made them question if a leak was present or not. After the surgery I started to run a fever(105 degree.) I began to go in and out of a coma like state. When they drew my blood my white blood cell count was 30,000( very, very high) they found that I had infections throughout my whole body. I don't even remember the first week in the hospital at all. My family tells me that I was not myself and didn't think that I was going to make it. As you can guess they are very anti-surgery now. I steel feel that it was the right thing to do. I've seem to be very emotional since I had the surgery. I hate that. How much weight have you lost? On Tueday I went to the doctor and found out that I've lost 50 lbs. Thank the lord. Well got to get going. Look foward to your next letter. -David :)

davidmdoughty 24 years, 3 months ago

Betty - I'm so glad that your surgery went as well as it did. Sorry that I haven't writen you sooner, but thing didn't go as well for me. After my surgery I had a number of problems. First, I had a leak. Second, I caught pnoumonia and just about died. I was in the hospital for over 2 weeks. I tell people that for x-mas they let me come home from the hospital. (ha ha) I'm sooooo thankful to be home now even though I had as many problems as I did, I feel that things will soon start looking up. Right now I am not able to eat or drink anything. I've haven't had anything to eat or drink since Dec.5. I'm being feed through IV's and all that I can say is that I hate it. Well again, I'm so glad that things are going well for you. I look foward to hearing from you soon -David :)

sistabodean 24 years, 4 months ago

Betty ~ I know about the three chin thing! lol I think i lost on of mine too. Working on the others now. Good luck with everything. God Bless!!

BettyBoopVA 24 years, 4 months ago

Hi y'all. I had my surgery 5 days ago and am recovering well at my sis' home. She's pampering me and making sure I get all my protein and pain medication in. As far as the surgery itself, I remember feeling happy and confident in the presurgery room. I wasn't the least bit concerned about the procedure but I made sure to speak to my anasthesiologist about some problems I'd encountered in previous surgeries. I felt like I was in very capable hands and I remember waving to my hubby and sis on my way to the operating room. I was asleep before I got there. It's amazing but whatever medicine they put in my IV to calm me down put me to sleep. I woke up about 3 hours later in the recovery room and remember feeling a slight tightness on my stomach but otherwise just felt nice and high. I asked the nurses to help me to the restroom and they kept reminding me to keep my eyes open. I didn't feel much pain but wanted to sleep as I walked... lol Soon I was transferred to the ICU and I heard the nurse telling me my sis was there. Sis had a big smile on her face so I knew everything had gone well. Then I saw my in-laws and eventually my hubby, once he was assured I looked ok (he doesn't handle hospital situations very well). I was in ICU because of the CPAP not because of any other complications. Before long the pain started kicking in and I began HATING the big bed in ICU. I'm only 5'3" and was upset the bed couldn't go any lower than it did and climbing in and out of the bed was more painful than anything else had been thus far. I became quite frustrated and cried feeling I had done the wrong thing. I had this surgery to become self-sufficient and instead was feeling I was at someone's mercy. I couldn't get up and use the bathroom when I wanted to and would have to wait in pain. Anyway, it was soon over and I was sent to a regular room. My new room was equipped with a much LOWER bed and that in itself made the stay a lot more tolerable. There was also a triangle to hang onto to get in and out of bed. The nurses and techs were wonderful and took care of my slightest need, including bathing and hygiene needs. The first day was all IVS, the 2nd was liquids and I've been on a pureed diet since. I've had to readjust to eating and drinking a LOT slower. My stomach is the boss for sure! Anyway, I'm so happy I'm on the other side now and thank God every day for his love in all of this. I have a new lease on life and I'm so excited to get going. I'm walking daily and still taking my percocet whenever the need arises. Btw the morphine pump was WONDERFUL! I'm a firm believer of taking advantage of whatever is given to us to make our recovery easier. God Bless us All! THANK you all who have written sending me your best wishes. My littermates still continue to be in my daily prayers. Much love--

lessofme170 24 years, 5 months ago

I'm praying that your surgery went well and your recovery is going great also!

Maryellen W. 24 years, 5 months ago

Betty: Hope all goes well and you are soon on your way to a happier, healthier life!