new & going crazy

yeah, it is a struggle, especially at first. try ice blocks - you'll get the extra crunch factor and it may ease the discomfort in your mouth for a while too.
also, my doc told me at one of my later post-op visits that it was then ok to drink up to just before eating, as it goes through quickly - you could try going up to 15 mins before eating and see if that helps.

Yeah i've been taking the 'band buddies' multi vitamins - 2 a day as instructed!!

The water thing, well - i'm finding that very difficult. Prior to the op i'd be drinking 1-2 litres a day, but now i'm barely drinking 1 litre. Given that i've been told not to drink for 30 mins before or after a meal, and to take up to an hour to eat, that's 6 hours out of each day where i can't drink. I used to scull my water, and obviously now i can't.... the same struggles as every one else and their water from what i'm reading on here. I'm adding a little juice or cordial to it which helps, but i just never seem to get enough down!

I had very dry lips for some weeks, and a peppermint lip treatment helped - actually they gave it to me at the hospital.
So did drinking more water - are you getting in enough to be sure it's not dehydration?
Didn't get the blistery thing, tho - sounds like what I het on my hands with dermatitis!

Just a thought, are you taking your multivitamins?

Hi all - thanks so much for your replies - it's good to know i'm not alone in this!!

I spoke to the dietician today who told me to have two optifast a day instead of 1, which of course made me want to DIE!!! I will look into the idea of a protein powder instead. I have been adding LSA to my yoghurts, and shakes, but maybe it's not enough. Doesn't help that before the operation i was borderline anemic so i guess i'll get back onto the iron tablets asap.

A weird thing since the op - and maybe someone here has encountered it... tiny small blisters on my lips and really really dry to the point of killing me lips. I've seen two GP's since the op about it - one said i was allergic to Nexium (stopped it - hasn't changed) the other one said it was due to my work as a makeup artist (which i clearly haven't done since before the op)... I've searched this forum for any signs of chat about it, but nothing... so just thought i'd ask... once i get back to Sydney i'll go to my regular GP or a dermatologist about it, but i'm just wondering...

Thanks again for all your support i've been inspired by you all xx

Hi Glittergirl,

You are NORMAL don't worry. I think the hardest thing to deal with is the mind.

Once you start on real food you will be fine.

And remember, you have just had MAJOR surgery. This would be one reason why you are so tired, as well as the fact that you haven't had any food of real substance for weeks.

Take care.

Hi,
Like the other girls said it does pass and the tired is because you have just had surgery and it takes a while for the drugs to leave the system. One of the first things that I had on the mushy stage was pureed tuna mornay, couldn't eat much mind you but it tasted like heaven LOL

Yell anytime you need someone, one of us is always around.

Hugs Gail

this is soooooooooooo normal. pain that it is it does pass. you will get occasional pangs of iwant foe ages but this desperate feeling goes pretty fast.

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Sorry to hear you are having such a hard time with the mushies.

I am day 15 post-op and also on the mushie stage with another 12 days to go before I start on the soft diet.

I am still having 1 shake per day also to get my protein in, but NOT using Optifast using Kate Morgan shakes as they taste better, which heaps more different flavours but still have 17.5 gms of protein per shake.

I am also adding Pro10Active (protein powder) to my porridge of a morning, you can also add this to any pureed foods/soups, shakes, etc to boost protein intake.

This stage will pass quickly and remember its only a short part of this journey.

Hang in there..you have heaps of support here..
Ask all the questions you like,and talk about your feeling..
I hope to be sleeved in February,so I'm interested on how everyone feels post op..



Look after your self,
Sharon

I am on week 2 post op and am just starting mushies.....I have tried cruskits with tuna/mayo mixture just for the crunch factor... make sure you mush it up in your mouth before swallowing and take it slow! Today I bought some chicken pate... also pumpkin which I am going to put some spices on and roast, then mash up.... also sweet potatoes..... can't wait. I can feel your trepidation that you are never going to eat "normal" again, but that will pass..... you will be fine.... talking to someone is a good idea, but also come onto the forum there are plenty of people on here who have probably gone through what you are going through....

take care.... you will be fine!

Glittergirl, what you are feeling is perfectly "normal". It will take a while to adjust but once you start to see and feel the results your mindset will change. It gets much easier once you are eating normal foods that you can chew. Flavoured tunas in salad or on crispbread or pureed with philli as a dip would be enjoyable in this hot weather. I love pita chips and tzatziki and veggies to dip in too.

It will get easier.
Jen
x

**Some reassurance** You are so normal its not funny!!

Its not just a total mind shift when you have the op. Its hard to change your mindset.

Good on you for seeing someone in the lead up. Maybe you need to see someone who specialises in "diet" issues? I might be seeking one out for myself soon!

You have done the right thing, it just doesn't seem like it right now. This time next year you'll look back and see the difference and feel amazing.

When you are on the mush and dieing to chew something its natural to feel emotional. Its like you are depriving yourself from something. But it won't be for long, then you'll never have to worry about anything like that again.

Hang in there, you can't change this, but you can learn to embrace it, and soon you will be reaping the benefits.

Hello, i had my op only 2 and a half weeks ago on the 11th Dec. Surprisingly, i feel physically great, aside from being hell-tired all the time (when will that end??). Haven't had an issue with eating, haven't thrown up, no other physical issues.

However... i am finding it emotionally and mentally very difficult to cope with. I cannot tolerate this optifast shake another single day, although i eat a vegetarian diet with the addition of fish so at the moment drinking the shakes is the torture i'm facing to get the protein i need. Even then i'm not getting the 60grams my dietician has said i need.

My head wants to eat everything i can't - chips, ice cream, big bowl of pasta, etc... but of course i'm still on puree/mushie diet and that's the thing i'm finding most difficult and has had me in tears a few times over the past couple of weeks. That, and the thought of "what the hell have i done?????"

I have looked on this forum a few times before surgery, but have only joined today in the hope that many of you out there will know what i'm going through and offer some words of wisdom!?

I started seeing a psychologist a few months before surgery in anticipation of this, and i'm glad i did. But of course even she wouldn't know what this feels like unless she'd had it done herself!!