1) Food intake - At 2 days after surgery, I could start intaking more than just clear liquids. For 12 days, my daily food intake pretty much consisted of one protein shake (Orgain 11 oz. Chocolate fudge), 1/3 cup of Oikos Triple Zero Vanilla or other flavor Greek Yogurt, 1/3 cup of Sugar-free Jello, 1/3 cup of chocolate pudding, and sugar-free popsicles. I drank water and water with Stur (a stevia-sweetened flavoring). I was getting between 300 and 400 calories a day. At day 15 after surgery, my daily food intake changed to 1 protein shake in the morning (consumed over an hour or so), 1/3 cup of mixed blueberry Mush (prepackaged overnight oats) with Greek yogurt, 1/3 cup of low-fat cottage cheese or goat cheese, 1/3 cup of pudding, and another 1/2 of a protein shake at bedtime. I had a bit of scrambled eggs and cheese at a breakfast I went to over last weekend. I can start eating more mushy foods now like mashed potatoes and canned peaches. As of 4 weeks, the stomach stitches will be healed and I can return to normal foods as long as my stomach tolerates them and in very small quantities still.
2) Medication intake - This was probably the most unexpected change. I usually took 4 or 5 pills at a time in the morning and at bedtime plus a few others throughout the day. I now need to space them out to keep my stomach from hurting. I also have to take 2 chewable bariatric tablets (think large bulkier Tums) twice a day for the rest of my life and a special pill to stave off gallstones twice a day for 6 months. I have realized that taking them with a protein shake instead of water does help a bit. As far as pain medication goes, I took Dilaudid at night for the first 6 nights and liquid Tylenol during the day. I don't take any most days now.
3) Incision healing - The small incision in my upper abdomen is pretty much fully healed and has no pain. The 4 incisions in line with my belly button are bigger and are taking longer to heal. The surgical glue is still attached to at least part of each incision and there are sizable lumps under two of the incisions. The doctor said "they will improve" when I asked him about it. The lumps are a bit painful and noticable, especially the biggest one when I bend over, but overall it is much better than it was right after surgery when it hurt every time I stood up. The surgical glue is supposed to come off by itself eventually.
4) Work and other activities - I took off work until 6 days after surgery and then eased back into it. Due to the low calorie intake, my mind is still a little spacier than usual but it is getting better over time as it gets used to the new calorie level plus starting the bariatric vitamins on day 7 was very helpful. I volunteered at the performing arts center 11 days after surgery and that was probably not the best idea but it was the national tour of MJ: The Musical and I actually trained my first volunteer in training that shift as well. I wore an abdominal binder to make the incision area less bouncy and that along with standing through the show took a lot out of me. I need to start walking about 10 minutes a day to help with my stamina.
5) Weight change - I've lost 20 pounds so far so about 1/5 of what I want to lose. I was warned that the fat I'm trying to lose is full of hormones since I gained it in the last few years. This means that I may feel depressed or at least not as elated as I think I should feel by losing the weight. Right now, I feel like I'm just too tired to celebrate much. I was also told that feeling like a truck hit you is common for the first month or so. I agree that's pretty accurate.
I have no regrets about having the surgery. I just need to be patient with my recovery and food intake retraining.
Thank you all for the well wishes and for following my journey.
Blessings and love,
Jennifer
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