The countdown to the surgery day seems to be just flying but I had a total reality check today. In 13 days I will no longer be able to eat anything. For two weeks previous to the surgery I must drink shakes that are purchased through the hospital ( these were stupidly expensive). Now the receptionist at the bariatric clinic has already told me that the vanilla ones taste terrible, so I only took one box of those and 3 boxes of chocolate ( I am not a big chocolate fan though) but these are the only available choices. This new realization came with a wave of panic. I will not be eating anything but these shakes for two weeks straight....oh I can have broth, black tea or coffee which isn't helpful as I am not a coffee drink and have a tea only once in awhile and it is definitely not black. That was problem number one, problem number two is I hate shakes!!! I gag even trying to eat pudding or jello. I have tried Slim Fast and other products over the years but never make it far as I can't get through a shake without bringing it back up! Now I am busy reasoning with myself, be positive maybe this will be different maybe the taste and texture will be fine this time as it is a different product, but my brain is telling my stomach you are in big big trouble! My husband is having surgery on March 31st which is the last day I can eat anything.....that day will be a write off. So I am making a plan to have my favourite meal on March 30th.....can't decide Red Lobster or Sushi. The directions that must be followed from the clinic are fairly simple but strict. Two full weeks of shakes previous to surgery. After surgery for two weeks it is nothing but sips of water, jello, borth on teaspoons every 1/2 hour. Funny huh, teaspoons.....your stomach right now holds up to 2 litres of food and fluid but after the surgery my new "pouch" or stomach will only hold 4 ounces ....1/2 a cup. You cannot ever eat and drink at the same time. You are to have water 1/2 hour before food or 1/2 hour after food. Then after the 3 week recovery mark I can start to have skim or 1% milk (lol, haven't drank milk since I was about 8 years old), liquidy oatmeal and soup creamed soups again the amounts are not like any one else would eat....teaspoons at a time and after about 3 you are done! No red meat for 6 to 8 months....maybe I should have steak for my last meal? After the 4 week recovery mark then I can have little tiny tiny bits of chicken and fish and veggies....oh did I forget to mention that your new stomach doesn't have the digestive juices so you have to make sure that every bite is chewed until it is mushy or it won't digest or if it is too by it will not go through the dime size opening from your esophogus to your new stomach. Oh, there is also the following rules: no drinking from straws ever, No pop ever, sweets are like cake, ice cream, etc are definite no, no's. The can cause something called "dumping" which can put you in the hospital in tremendous pain. Now so far writing these blogs has been totally therapeutic but right at this moment I am not finding it that way! I have always had the knowledge that this journey was not going to be easy by any means, but writing it out and reviewing it just made me realize how hard it is going to be. Ther previous blog: Supporters Check yielded some fabulous emails and some wonderful supports in which I am thinking I will need every single one! Thank God for my family, supports and time! Time is said to be a great healer and I believe time is what I will need to develope my new life. Maya Angelou said " All great Achievements require time".
Steph
Steph
I'm with you on the shakes!! But I found if if you keep them REALLY cold, and add 4 cubes of ice, it helps...really, it does!! Never was a fan of the vanilla ones (Glucerna or Slim Fast) but the chocolate were good.
ReplyDeleteAs for straws...they should be banned!!!! They create such gas problems for me, so it doesn't surprise me that you can't use them after surgery.
Try cutting out sugar now and it won't be such a huge withdrawal on top of everything else.