well everyone, I am home. Safe and Sound.
I did spike a little fever on night 3 in hosp, so I am home on some hefty antibiotics. I have had to resort to childrens gravol suppositories for the last 24 hrs. The ride home was terrible, and although It is over I am still having a hard time drinking anything but water, and The only way to take my one antibiotic is with food, so far a 1/4 of a whole grain cracker( I know no crackers, but my surgeon recommended for 3 days) is going to have to do. The nausea from the car trip was tremendous, and I just puked, and puked. My poor lil pouch was doing flips flops, and twists.

There I was last night wishing to God I wasn't allergic to codeine, so I could have gotten Tylenol 3's. Instead I am sucking up my pain just with regular Advil, but I am feeling much much better today. Hopefully I get better every day.

I have managed this afternoon to graduate back to chicken broth, and I am just about to make myself a smoothie. I didn't get any real guidelines for caloric intake....did I read somewhere on here 500-600 cals??? I am managing to do really well with the water, sipping my way through the day. I do need to make myself a checklist for all the meds, supplements....is anyone else taking calcium citrate, my nutritionist is pretty adamant that I only add in this calcium.

Other than that I am doing pretty well. Thank you all for your words of support and encouragement!!!!


I sure hope I start melting soon.

Amanda

Hooray! So good to see you posting. Take it easy and keep sipping those fluids.

We'll get all specific on you soon. Calcium citrate absorbs much better than any other kind of calcium.

hugs.

awwwww! Bless you li'l Canadian heart Amanda!
We're so darn happy to see yo again! Wow... sounds
like they took good care of you in the Hosp. and the you're
right there where you ought to be. Yes, yo will feel a little
better every day and ARE YOU EXCITED??!!!!!
THIS IS IT!!! I'm excited FOR you! {{HUGS}}
Get LOTS of rest and check in when you can! You're
gonna have such a super summer!!!!!!!!!!! Wooooooo Hooooooooo!

I'm so glad you are feeling a wee bit better, Amanda. That totally stinks that you were so sick and I just can't imagine that ride home! ((gentle hugs)) to you!!

My personal advice.. don't even stinkin worry about the calories or protein or anything yet.. just get to feeling better. (for the first 5-7 days.. 8oz of water took me 3 hours to drink!). Just go easy on yourself.. relax, sleep, get your liquid in as well as possible!!

Glad your back with us!! You're going to start melting like butter in Hot Pan!!

Hey! Welcome back and I'm sorry that you've had such a horrid time so far.

A note: Advil should not be taken...did your surgeon recommend this? We've all been told to only take Tylenol.

I think I have been prescribed Advil to help with swelling, and inflammation, and pain. I was not able to come home on any pain meds, so iboprophin is what he prescribed I know it isn't what they usually prescribe it is just for the next 7 days till my staples com out.

Thanks for your well wishes everyone.
Amanda

Hi Amanda!

Glad you're back. I'm 15 mos post op. I saw where you asked about Calcium citrate. I take chewable Calcium Citrate. According to Dr. it's the one with the best absorption rate for us. It absorbs in the intestines instead of the stomach like Calium Carbonate.

Also I agree with Kim about the Advil. I was told to do Tylenol only for pain. Anything else can cause terrible stomach distress.

Amanda,
I'm sorry the ride home was so hard on you. Fortunately, we heal quickly & you will be good as new in no time.
I posted this somewhere else, but will put it here for you, in case you want to use it. It is my food intake/supplements chart. You will need to adapt it for yourself if you use it. I have adapted it several times to agree w/ what I need currently. Ignore the carb grams, as I need to edit them to fewer than I have listed.

Amanda,
I was just thinking about your horrible ride home. I'm thinking the the anesthesia
may still have your system thrown off. I sure hope the nausea clears out soon.
Thanks so much for taking the time to check in!
{{HUGS}}

Amanda, it was so good to see that you posted. I am so sorry for your rough time but it will get better. It is really good to see that you can get the water in and don't worry a bit about how many calories you are getting in right now. Soon, you can count calories and protein intake to your hearts content. Just let your stomach have the rest it needs and you take good and gentle care of yourself!

I hope you will be able to post again soon to let us know how you are doing.

I agree with everyone about the calories. Eat what you can tolerate for now. I know my doc had me eat gravy with a pit of mashed potatoes for the first few weeks that I was on soft foods. You can only eat a few spoonfuls anyway so you aren't getting many calories. I hate to tell you that I was sooo nauseaous for the 1st 3 months that I hated to eat anything! My doc gave me a script for Reglan and that helped out some. Are you allergic to Vicodin?? If you aren't I would ask for that as it is way Better for your pouch than advil. Good Luck and keep sipping!

I knew as soon as I read your post about the advil that everyone would have something to say about it,lol My dr 5 yrs ago never told me to NOT take it either and I have taken it for 5 yrs now. Guess I am lucky?? Who knows. To each his or her own.
I have heard the Calcium citrate is great to take also.
For now I wouldnt worry about cals/fat/protein etc. Just get yourself better. Walk as much as you can. I remember just walking to the end of my driveway,then to the mailbox,then to the next door neighbors house. Etc. Keep drinking the water. Try som sf jello or pudding.

You'll get there!

WELCOME!!!!

Welcome home!

awww your doing sooo good!

Rest, walk, sip, and know that you are losing weight rapidly!

(((hugs)))

WELCOME HOME AMANDA!

I hope your feeling better soon...just follow the doctors orders!

I too was NEVER told not to take the ibuprofen and always have as its the ONLY thing that works for me. Luckily no problems here....

I'm sorry to hear about the aweful ride home too...but your home now and can recouperate in your own home. Dont forget to KEEP MOVING AROUND TOO!! Even if its just down the block and back. KEEP THAT BLOOD CIRCULATING so you dont form a clot!!

Good luck and SENDING LOTS OF CALI HUGS!!


Julie

I was told to use Tylenol only, which doesn't do anything for me. I can use the stuff with codeine though, and that does help, I just don't use it often. I also take a chewable calcium citrate, and I am five years out. I use Twinlab Calcium Citrate chewable wafers with Magnesium and Vitamin D. I get them at Vitamin Shoppe and also my local Giant supermarket has them (and they are cheaper at the supermarket). I've tried the capsules and I really hate swollowing pills...so much, that I conveniently forget to take them. With the chewables, I usually don't forget to take them because the taste isn't bad (they remind me of Sweet Tarts). Right after I had surgery, this is the brand that I used, and I have constantly gone back to them. Their only drawback is that for 1000mg, there are 3 grams of carbs.

Also, good luck! It will get better!

Awwww, welcome to the losing side!!!!

Don't fret the details yet...there is plenty of time in the next few weeks to form good eating habits and get yourself into a routine. Right now you need to just allow your body to heal...rest and recoup.

Everyone will show you the way as time progresses...remember...we have all been there!

I wish you a speedy recovery, and can't wait to watch your journey! Hugs!

Thanks everyone, you are all keeping me sane. The dietician just called and told me that I need to start getting in my protein and suppliments. I am trying really hard to get it all in. Today I have done better, and most of the pain is a dull ache. I did ask about the advil and she did say most of the time only tylenol is prescribed, but that in my case becasue I couldn't take anything stronger home that my doctor said advil, but that if I am able now would be the time to switch to tylenol. I for the most part can eat about 2 tsp. Then I am full, and have to wait about 30 min until I can stomach anything more (water wise).

Anyway thanks so much everyone, I actually woke up a little excited this morning. lol

Amanda

Hi Amanda,

So glad to hear you are home. Sorry about the ride home, that must have been awful. But you made it!!!

I'm happy you woke up excited this morning. You are on the losing side now!

Keep us posted.