[jonnyb's wife]

I am looking for some help. I had my surgery on November 17th and due to complications had emergency surgery again on the 19th. I was then in ICU for 5 days and had a ruff time of things, hospital stay was 16 days. There is no support group in my area, since I live out here in the sticks. Right now I am having a lot of trouble with food. I can not seem to get it right, I throw up a lot of what I eat and I know that most of it is that I eat too fast and drink fluid shortly after eating or during eating. I’ve seen the doctor and he told me that if I did not stop throwing up that I will build scare tissue around the opening of my stomach and that will land me back in surgery. I am so scared, I do not know how to cope with this. I can keep up with soups but that does not get me the nuriousment that I know my body needs. I purchased a chopper and I grind things up so that I don’t have a problem however that does not seem to help either. Please anyone with information and some help please lets start talking and pass along information my e-mail is firelady@frontiernet.net. I work rotating shifts and will respond as soon as I can. Thank you LEE

[FemmeMode]

I am sooo sorry you are having a difficult time of it!!!
I want you to know....you will get the "hang" of it....it's just a hard time to get used to eating new.

I don't know about all the medical stuff...but as I was reading your post...I immediately thought you should try soups...and take it slow...... very very sllllloooooooooowwwwwww!!!

Anyway....as far as nurishment...you are not gonna starve...just get in that protein - that should be your MAIN Focus....besides getting in water and your vitamins. There are a couple types of protein that you can ADD to soups....
One I used at the beginning was a SOY based protein made by shacklee....it was flavorless...and easily added to 'cooked foods' - you should check it out!

Other than that....come here...we are ALL here for one another...and would love to support you ANY WAY we can!!! And then my other suggestion would be to stick to you Doc's protocol.....DON'T Drink while you eat....or at least 30 min. before or after. That is important for several reasons....take it slow, chew chew chew....you CAN DO IT!!!
It was hard for us all....still is hard for me at times...and I'm nearly 9mos. postop!

I'm gonna drop you an email...feel free to contact me ANYTIME!!!

[fr1endly2]

FIRST OFF ((((((((((((TIGHT HUGS)))))))))))))))))))
very ruff start for you right now and im sorry
your going thru some of this.

DONT worry to much on makeing your protein totals
right now just do the best you can. IF soup sits well in your
pouch and soft foods PUREED use them. I tended to use
soups with the most protein like chicken broccoli cheddar
and would puree the chunks it helps.....

I was naughy myself always eating to fast and not chewing well
but early on was careful not to throw up. I ate with baby spoons
and forks and used baby food bowls to control what i was eating some.

MANY people at your stage also tend to add tasteless protein
powders to soups to get some protein in i know for me i did add very
little to my broths to help.

RELAX and do what you can.....wait the required time set out from your
surgeon before you drink the rules matter thats why they give them to us.
EVEN to this day if i drink too soon after a meal i toss up!!

HUGS!!!!!!! HANG in there it will get better and easier in TIME!!!
EVERY day will. I know your getting off to a ruff start but IM sure
it will all workout in time and things will get easier for you.

ARE you on any tums or any product like that? GETTING in your chewable
vitamins???
lisa
xoxox

[bren]

Deb and Lisa both had great suggestions. Most important relax it will be OK. We are all here for you and each other its the best support I have found.

[fr1endly2]

YEAH i have to admit the great thing about this board verses any support groups in our home towns is this board is here 24 /7!!!

SO it works!!!!
and the best!

[jonnyb's wife]

Thank you all it really helps to know that you are all here. I have not added tums but herd the other day that I should. I have a chewable vitamins and I get a B 12 shot from my doc once a month. We are going in Tuesday so they can show my hsband how to give them to me so I will not have to go in as often. We are leaving here on Wednesday to see my doc in SLC, for my monthly check up and also to report that my family doc here found blood in my urine. We have no idea why it is there and I am afraid that he will put me back into the hospital but I will be sure to give you all an update as soon as we get back. The soups are doing great I have been having nothing but them for the past 3 days and not had one instance of throwing up. I started out on November at 263 and now at 208. I really want to thank all of you for your support from the bottom of my heart. Thanks again Lee

[cabbie]

Lee I will pray that all goes well. I know soup might get old but your tummy really seems like it needs it to help it heal. Keep up the hard work, it is all worth it in the end. This time shall pass and you will barely remember it before you know it. Definitely keep us posted. How does sugar-free jello or pudding do? Just for some variety. Just a thought.
Keep us updated!

[jonnyb's wife]

I love it and I can also tolorate cottage cheese and yogurt. I am great with the soft stuff. My closest friends say that it is I am just impatient and I thin that I should be able to eat it now. And my husband and doc have to remind me that surgery was only in November and that it has not been that long. Thanks Lee P.S. I will keep up the work ( not like I have that much of choice huh) this is a life changing even and I knew that going into it. Thanks again for all your ideas and support

[cabbie]

Sorry I accidentally thought your name was Lee, silly me. Yes patience is the best thing we learn during this process. I know I have learned it very well by being forced into it. lol

[DocSanae]

Hi there, blood in your urine could mean that you have kidney stones. This sometimes happens with post ops, as does gall bladder stones, both due to your changed plumbing which results in changes in absorbtion of food. It can increase the concentration of some stuff, and decrease concentration of things that you need. If there is a stone, if it's small, there's some meds to melt it, but if it's too big for that, probably what the drs will do is "blast" it with ultrasound. There are other options, but these two are the most common.

Are you getting enough water in, despite the trouble you're having in keeping your food down? Most surgeons say at least 64oz per day, to keep you from getting dehydrated. Dehydration causes a lot of things, including, in the long term, stones. Also, if you are not getting enough water in, that may be one of the reasons you have trouble with food, actually.

As for your weightloss, wow, 55lb in 2 months?!! That's GREAT, most people only have 30-40lb loss at most in 2 months.
Congratulations!!

I'm sure you understand in your head that this is not a quick fix but lifetime work. You've only just started out.
Don't let your emotions take the reins, learn to let your thinking and working brain take the reins.

Keep up the good work, (((((((HUGS)))))))