3 Days POST OP and a little worried pls advice - ThinnerTimes

astrgodoy · 09-10-2005, 08:47 PM

3 Days POST OP and a little worried pls advice

hi everyone and thanks for the opportunity of reading all your wonderful advice. Anyway I had Lap GBS on Wednesday came home Friday, and today I had a breakdown (crying) I started getting this terrible regretful feeling, and thoughts of never having a normal (enjoying happy family dinner outings) life with my husband and kids. My husband has been very supportive but I just get hungry all the time has this ever happened to anyone? Could it be because of the diarrhea I am having all day (watery stools) after I drink my 4oz of protein and even after water/diet snapple/crystal light 4-6 oz only according to my Dr. Please someone advice as to what can help kill these cravings I have. and the hunger I feel. Or maybe I should add some broth to my diet and maybe that will help? As for the watery stools anyone had the same problem?

Sorry to spill this out I just feel so stressed right now-
post depression

scuuder3 · 09-11-2005, 12:12 AM

are you still on liquids only. i had my surgery on 8/30 and by friday was on pureed food. once you start with some pureed food it may help the hunger. i too have hunger at times, i think it may be psycholgical for me, because it is when i smell food i like. as for the watery stools i think that is normal, especially while on liquids and or pureed foods. mushy in can equal mushy watery out. just stick to your doctors orders and you'll be fine.

Bypassingme619 · 09-11-2005, 12:12 AM

First ((((BIG HUG)))) to you. We all go through a grieving period for food. It has been the one thing I thought was getting me through my stressful times. It is a battle everyday. Everyday I fight for control the urge. Sometimes it is best to seek help for these issues of constant hunger. I have read that some people here get put on Welbutrin by there PCP. I guess it helps with the head hunger. I am so sorry you are going through all of this. I wish I could help you better. Just know you are not alone in what you feel and this is something you will have to take day by day. My prayers go out to you for strength through it all.

sUzYzPLaCe · 09-11-2005, 09:42 AM

I too about 7 days post op just hit the wall emotionally and I was crying and didn't know why I had done this to myself. I was so afraid I wouldn't get through it blah blah. I wasn't physically hungry after surgery for about two months then it came back. I had "head" hunger though and during that time I would just feed myself popsicles.. that seemed to sooth that part of it. Good luck and we are all here for you. Suzy

Pokey757 · 09-11-2005, 12:20 PM

I am 20 days Post op. I started regretting at about oh...., day 1....but then i just sucked it up, and remebered why i did this. You will be able to enjoy those days again. But you have to go through the baby stage. Your tummy is just that of a babys so treat it well. Believe you me, i am soooooo sick of the pureed stage. I also had (watery stools)
You must know 1st of all. Everyone's nutrition guidelines are different, depending on who did their surgery. I have a hard time will all the advise coming from every which direction (it's all different). I finally just decieded my nutritionist is the ONLY one i am listening to as far as what to eat or not to eat goes.
Some advise i can give you is banana's and applesause are more binding foods. Meaning they will help with your diareea. It did me anyway. I had diareea for about 3 days. Finally i ate both of those things, and wala it is gone. That was at the advise of my nutritionist.
I hope i have helped, i know i am not much farther out than you, but together we can get through this!

jlcsmokey · 09-11-2005, 04:02 PM

congrats to you on having the surgery! That was a big step to get by and you did it. This is the beginning of the rest of your long healthy life.

This time of emotional roller coaster is normal. Your body is reacting to what happened and emotions and hormones are big players in your recovery.

I am 8 weeks post op tomorrow and for me the hardest were weeks 2 - 5. I had tons of cravings for food that I never had cravings for before surgery. I think I was mourning food in general. For me sugar free single popsciles became a comfort food. The cold satisfied the hunger my mouth had and it was only 1.5oz of fluid in total, so my stomach was not bothered and the cold seemed to help that also. I also had ff/sf pudding with a little cool whip on top. It is a 4oz package and with the cool whip, about 5oz total. It would take me about 20 - 25 min to eat and savor the pudding.

Be careful the protein shakes and their sugar content. I have found that too much sugar can lead to diahria. But for the week after surgery, I think it is pretty normal. Your body is just recovering.

Take the rest of your life, one day at a time and you will succeed.

Nikkiart29 · 09-11-2005, 05:34 PM

IT WILL GET BETTER! I went through the same thing during the "baby stage" of this surgery. Cravings for food were horrible! As time passes, you will notice you WON'T be hungry anymore! I sometimes have to remind myself to eat because I was, as we all are/were, living to eat and not eating to live! The first month will be bad, your body is changing, no more comfort foods, pain, nausea, etc. We all have went through it, but as time passes I am starting to forget how hard it was because everything is becoming second nature now. Chewing, not drinking with meals, actually SHRINKING in size instead of increasing...it's all good, believe me! You will be able to do family gatherings, you will be the one ENJOYING your food now. The gathering is not all about the food, it's about the family and you SURVIVING to be there with them!

lealphachienne · 09-11-2005, 10:10 PM

My time out with family and friends is much more emjoyable. The focus isn't on the food, but the people around me. No one questions why I don't eat as much as others. If there is a question, I say that I eat a single serving size of food, which is what is suppose to be normal. I have so much more time for conversation when you're not shoveling food down your gullet.

Mavisavis · 09-14-2005, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astrgodoy

3 Days POST OP and a little worried pls advice

hi everyone and thanks for the opportunity of reading all your wonderful advice. Anyway I had Lap GBS on Wednesday came home Friday, and today I had a breakdown (crying) I started getting this terrible regretful feeling, and thoughts of never having a normal (enjoying happy family dinner outings) life with my husband and kids. My husband has been very supportive but I just get hungry all the time has this ever happened to anyone? Could it be because of the diarrhea I am having all day (watery stools) after I drink my 4oz of protein and even after water/diet snapple/crystal light 4-6 oz only according to my Dr. Please someone advice as to what can help kill these cravings I have. and the hunger I feel. Or maybe I should add some broth to my diet and maybe that will help? As for the watery stools anyone had the same problem?

Sorry to spill this out I just feel so stressed right now-
post depression

I just now noticed this post. You had the same surgery as I did, same day, even got out of the hospital that Friday! What area are you from? How are you doing now? I am feeling fantastic, but we all hit different phases in different ways. I am most disgruntled about the liquids and purees. The doc I have is very cautious and strict, so it'll be rough til my 29th day. I hope you are feeling a bit better now.

TabFox · 09-14-2005, 08:21 PM

Oh, how I remember the post-op depression! I mourned the loss of food. Afterall, we grew up celebrating with food, everything was centered around food and now it's as if we've lost a part of ourselves. It does pass with time. Remember the surgery is permanent...no turning back. Try to make the best of it. I know that's a bit harsh, but you really can't do anything about it. I had to be put on Lexapro for anxiety and depression because of mourning food, and alot of other stressful situations in my life. It does get better! I promise!!! As you see the weight fall off, and you start wearing smaller sizes, it's a huge mental rush! All the "firsts" you'll start having, like crossing your legs, walking up steps without losing your breath, sitting in a chair not worrying if it will hold you, not having people make snide/rude comments.
As for the hunger, try some yogurt or even some oatmeal. It'll only take a bite or two to fill you up at first, but it'll taste so good! Even some mashed potatoes would be fine.
Keep your chin up! You're going to be fine!