http://adventuresofbeaner.blogspot.com/ is the URL.
"After many previous and current inquiries about Ian and our family, I have decided to put together a blog for any interested followers. I'll include Ian's adventures, including the ups, downs, and in-betweens."
"Ian was born 11 weeks early, at 29 weeks, various gastrointestinal and pulmonary issues"
Ian has had a Nissen Fundoplication as an infant, and this blog discusses his issues. Worth a mention here, as it seems that babies who undergo NF have their own considerations.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
ONE YEAR!
Yesterday was the 1-year anniversary of my life-changing surgery. I believe I have a normal life again although it's not the same normal as I had before the GERD began nearly 20 years previously. But it is normal to me now.
These differences are few, though. Still no carbonated beverages, since I can't burp, for the most part. Very very occasionally a small amount of air will work its way back up past my wrap, but it is not often enough to be sure I could burp when I needed to - 95% of the time, at least, I can't. For the same reason, I can't drink through a straw, which is would mainly be an issue at fast-food drive-thru places. But we keep a bottle of water in the car for those occasions. And speaking of air, what can't come back up, has to pass on through. So I'm more flatulent than I've ever been, and don't have much control over that. I try to not be rude about it but, well, like I said, I don't have much control over that.
As for foods, I probably only get "stuck" a couple of times a month now. Smaller bites and thorough chewing are second nature. Large bites are painful going down, even if they don't get stuck. As I've mentioned, cooked pork and bread are the main problems, like if I have the very rare (as in infrequent) hamburger on a bun for example.
My appetite is about 75% of what it was prior. I graze more now. Eat less at meals, get hungry sooner afterward, and eat again. Sometimes my meals that don't get finished I just leave sitting on the counter; in an hour or so I'll go back and finish it. I've also noticed that motility is better. If I eat to the point of fullness (not uncomfortable fullness of course), and then walk around or even sit back with a cup of tea, 10-15 minutes later I can eat a little more. This is good for buffet restaurants, where I eat my small plate of food and finish before my husband is half-done with his mounded up plate. By the time he's halfway through his second plate and I'm sitting there bored, I can go have a dish of soup or a dessert (sugar-free of course!) or something - then we finish up at the same time.
I love to rearrange the furniture in my house, but heavy lifting is still off-limits. The last time I tried (a couple of months ago), I was in a world of hurt in the area of my wrap for 2-3 days afterward. I've since read that heavy lifting is never a good idea after a wrap, no matter how long it's been since the surgery. This isn't a huge issue to me anymore since the arthritis in my spine also limits lifting, but just another difference.
Raw vegetables was another thing my surgeon warned me against, both for digestibility and for gas issues. I can eat small amounts, but they do give me a bellyache if I eat too much, and they do increase the level of gas I need to get rid of. So I can eat them, but I limit them. Gone are the days of eating a whole head of cauliflower dipped in ranch dressing in one day!
Even though the early days were more difficult for me than most, recovery was slower and more painful, and I do have some (minor!) limits now, I would do it again in a heartbeat. And, in cases like mine where all else has failed, I would definitely recommend it. It is a major surgery, it is life-altering, and it physically changes the inside of our bodies, permanently. It has a fairly high failure rate (depending on who you ask), and can cause more problems than it was intended to solve in a few cases. For these reasons it isn't a surgery that should be taken lightly or gone into without a lot of research and prayer. But for me, it was literally a lifesaver and many times every single day I am thankful that I had the opportunity to get it done!
These differences are few, though. Still no carbonated beverages, since I can't burp, for the most part. Very very occasionally a small amount of air will work its way back up past my wrap, but it is not often enough to be sure I could burp when I needed to - 95% of the time, at least, I can't. For the same reason, I can't drink through a straw, which is would mainly be an issue at fast-food drive-thru places. But we keep a bottle of water in the car for those occasions. And speaking of air, what can't come back up, has to pass on through. So I'm more flatulent than I've ever been, and don't have much control over that. I try to not be rude about it but, well, like I said, I don't have much control over that.
As for foods, I probably only get "stuck" a couple of times a month now. Smaller bites and thorough chewing are second nature. Large bites are painful going down, even if they don't get stuck. As I've mentioned, cooked pork and bread are the main problems, like if I have the very rare (as in infrequent) hamburger on a bun for example.
My appetite is about 75% of what it was prior. I graze more now. Eat less at meals, get hungry sooner afterward, and eat again. Sometimes my meals that don't get finished I just leave sitting on the counter; in an hour or so I'll go back and finish it. I've also noticed that motility is better. If I eat to the point of fullness (not uncomfortable fullness of course), and then walk around or even sit back with a cup of tea, 10-15 minutes later I can eat a little more. This is good for buffet restaurants, where I eat my small plate of food and finish before my husband is half-done with his mounded up plate. By the time he's halfway through his second plate and I'm sitting there bored, I can go have a dish of soup or a dessert (sugar-free of course!) or something - then we finish up at the same time.
I love to rearrange the furniture in my house, but heavy lifting is still off-limits. The last time I tried (a couple of months ago), I was in a world of hurt in the area of my wrap for 2-3 days afterward. I've since read that heavy lifting is never a good idea after a wrap, no matter how long it's been since the surgery. This isn't a huge issue to me anymore since the arthritis in my spine also limits lifting, but just another difference.
Raw vegetables was another thing my surgeon warned me against, both for digestibility and for gas issues. I can eat small amounts, but they do give me a bellyache if I eat too much, and they do increase the level of gas I need to get rid of. So I can eat them, but I limit them. Gone are the days of eating a whole head of cauliflower dipped in ranch dressing in one day!
Even though the early days were more difficult for me than most, recovery was slower and more painful, and I do have some (minor!) limits now, I would do it again in a heartbeat. And, in cases like mine where all else has failed, I would definitely recommend it. It is a major surgery, it is life-altering, and it physically changes the inside of our bodies, permanently. It has a fairly high failure rate (depending on who you ask), and can cause more problems than it was intended to solve in a few cases. For these reasons it isn't a surgery that should be taken lightly or gone into without a lot of research and prayer. But for me, it was literally a lifesaver and many times every single day I am thankful that I had the opportunity to get it done!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
11 Months! #fundoplication
This is a post that I made to the Facebook Nissen Fundoplication group (a closed group but FULL of helpful people!) in reply to someone who wondered if life is ever normal again after this procedure. It pretty much sums up my life now, so I am reposting it here as my 11-month update.
"It's been 11 months for me. I consider it a 'new normal' and certainly 100% better than my 'life' (if I could even consider it that) before. I take smaller bites. I chew more thoroughly. I keep a warm beverage handy especially when eating things that I know have a tendency to stick (breads - even my home-made low-carb breads - and roasted pork mostly). I don't drink anything with carbonation and avoid caffeine. I keep simethicone tablets for when I eat 'gassy' foods because I totally love vegetables and they are a huge part of my diet as a low-carber. I have to stop eating at the first sign of fullness, or expect PAIN which I'm sure is a sign that there is pressure or stretching at my wrap - not a good thing if I want my wrap not to fail! I think that's about it. But it's all 2nd nature now, and it's normal now and certainly MUCH less restrictive and easier than how I had to eat before the NF surgery. . Back then I not only had to worry about what I ingested would cause but how it would taste or feel coming back up."
Here, I would add that prior to the surgery I was very apprehensive about what life would be like afterward. I'm a lifelong foodie. I'm happiest when I'm dealing with food, creating recipes and cooking and planning meals and grocery-shopping...and I was sure that all of this would come to a screeching halt after such a major change to my gut. AND I WAS WRONG. With a few minor changes as listed above, the foodie part of me still lives, and lives well! Even better, in fact, because I no longer get sick every time I eat!
This is a surgery that is considered a last resort, after all else has been tried, and especially where Barrett's is involved. (As a side note: less than 1% of people with Barrett's develop esophageal cancer, which is the greatest fear of many who have it. I have it, but don't fear it. There is a separate procedure where a surgeon can ablate the damaged tissue.)
So I know that nobody goes into NF lightly. It dramatically alters our digestive tract, and there's no going back. It has a higher failure rate (especially over time) than most surgeries, according to most. There is a long recovery, and no, life is not ever the same afterward.
It is hard when people are where I was a year ago, with their fears and anxieties...and it is impossible to fully share my joy in life now, compared to before, because their fears get in the way. And it is true that this surgery doesn't always have such a positive outcome, certainly; nobody can guarantee that everyone who has this procedure will have the same great results that I did. But I can - and do - happily share my own, and hope that it helps them :).
"It's been 11 months for me. I consider it a 'new normal' and certainly 100% better than my 'life' (if I could even consider it that) before. I take smaller bites. I chew more thoroughly. I keep a warm beverage handy especially when eating things that I know have a tendency to stick (breads - even my home-made low-carb breads - and roasted pork mostly). I don't drink anything with carbonation and avoid caffeine. I keep simethicone tablets for when I eat 'gassy' foods because I totally love vegetables and they are a huge part of my diet as a low-carber. I have to stop eating at the first sign of fullness, or expect PAIN which I'm sure is a sign that there is pressure or stretching at my wrap - not a good thing if I want my wrap not to fail! I think that's about it. But it's all 2nd nature now, and it's normal now and certainly MUCH less restrictive and easier than how I had to eat before the NF surgery. . Back then I not only had to worry about what I ingested would cause but how it would taste or feel coming back up."
Here, I would add that prior to the surgery I was very apprehensive about what life would be like afterward. I'm a lifelong foodie. I'm happiest when I'm dealing with food, creating recipes and cooking and planning meals and grocery-shopping...and I was sure that all of this would come to a screeching halt after such a major change to my gut. AND I WAS WRONG. With a few minor changes as listed above, the foodie part of me still lives, and lives well! Even better, in fact, because I no longer get sick every time I eat!
This is a surgery that is considered a last resort, after all else has been tried, and especially where Barrett's is involved. (As a side note: less than 1% of people with Barrett's develop esophageal cancer, which is the greatest fear of many who have it. I have it, but don't fear it. There is a separate procedure where a surgeon can ablate the damaged tissue.)
So I know that nobody goes into NF lightly. It dramatically alters our digestive tract, and there's no going back. It has a higher failure rate (especially over time) than most surgeries, according to most. There is a long recovery, and no, life is not ever the same afterward.
It is hard when people are where I was a year ago, with their fears and anxieties...and it is impossible to fully share my joy in life now, compared to before, because their fears get in the way. And it is true that this surgery doesn't always have such a positive outcome, certainly; nobody can guarantee that everyone who has this procedure will have the same great results that I did. But I can - and do - happily share my own, and hope that it helps them :).
Thursday, October 6, 2011
10 Months PostOp - and counting! #fundoplication
Things are going well. Very well. My appetite, and the amount of food I'm able to eat, is now about 75% what it was before the surgery. I guess my stomach is adjusting? I still have occasional trouble with pork for some reason, and hamburgers on buns (which I rarely eat anyway), getting these stuck. But the pork situation is getting better.
One experience I did have, last month, was AWFUL! I had run out of my anti-nausea pills (Zofran) because, while I typically only take 1-2 a month, I had to take 2 in a single weekend. On Monday I planned to call my doctor for more, but I didn't get to it, then woke up with a massive headache and nausea on Tuesday morning. I called my doctor for a refill of the Zofran, and was told I had to get it from the surgeon's office. I called the surgeon's office and was told I had to get it from my primary doctor. Meanwhile, I started retching.
Talk about PAIN! It was awful. And I'd heard of stories where retching could cause failure of the wrap, so I was also afraid...and it was only getting worse. I had no choice but to get to the ER. My sister called ahead of time and explained, so that I could get some zofran as soon as I got there. But first I had to explain to the receptionist - who didn't know about the wrap, why I couldn't just vomit...then had to explain again to the triage nurse but thankfully she did, and got me a zofran tablet right away, the minute I got to the gurney.
(My "roommate" in the 2-bed room was a MAN! I didn't know they did that, it wasn't very comfortable for me, but really I was too sick to care.)
I was there for 9 hours, during which I got an IV, 3 doses of dilaudid for the headache and stomach pain, and 4 doses of Zofran. The last doses they gave me one of each to carry me over on the hour-long ride home, and I had an instantaneous reaction of extreme severe itching all the way up my arm and shoulder, so I got a dose of benedryl in my IV also. I was half-asleep and dopey as heck for the rest of the evening from all the drugs, but at least the retching had stopped (although nothing they gave me helped the headache).
The best part is, they gave me an rx for 20 more Zofran tablets. Lesson learned...no way will I let myself run out of them again.
One experience I did have, last month, was AWFUL! I had run out of my anti-nausea pills (Zofran) because, while I typically only take 1-2 a month, I had to take 2 in a single weekend. On Monday I planned to call my doctor for more, but I didn't get to it, then woke up with a massive headache and nausea on Tuesday morning. I called my doctor for a refill of the Zofran, and was told I had to get it from the surgeon's office. I called the surgeon's office and was told I had to get it from my primary doctor. Meanwhile, I started retching.
Talk about PAIN! It was awful. And I'd heard of stories where retching could cause failure of the wrap, so I was also afraid...and it was only getting worse. I had no choice but to get to the ER. My sister called ahead of time and explained, so that I could get some zofran as soon as I got there. But first I had to explain to the receptionist - who didn't know about the wrap, why I couldn't just vomit...then had to explain again to the triage nurse but thankfully she did, and got me a zofran tablet right away, the minute I got to the gurney.
(My "roommate" in the 2-bed room was a MAN! I didn't know they did that, it wasn't very comfortable for me, but really I was too sick to care.)
I was there for 9 hours, during which I got an IV, 3 doses of dilaudid for the headache and stomach pain, and 4 doses of Zofran. The last doses they gave me one of each to carry me over on the hour-long ride home, and I had an instantaneous reaction of extreme severe itching all the way up my arm and shoulder, so I got a dose of benedryl in my IV also. I was half-asleep and dopey as heck for the rest of the evening from all the drugs, but at least the retching had stopped (although nothing they gave me helped the headache).
The best part is, they gave me an rx for 20 more Zofran tablets. Lesson learned...no way will I let myself run out of them again.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Diet and #GERD
This is NOT about the "standard GERD diet" that most doctors recommend, but that doesn't help so many people who are still living on antacids, PPI's, etc...this is different and, even if you believe that "low carb" is a fad diet (it isn't, but this isn't the place to debate it), if you are desperate or even want to try something different - and harmless - or avoid surgery or strong medications, read below, follow the links, see what others - including physicians and the MANY people for whom it worked - have shared, and consider if this might at least be worth a try for yourself.
My own personal experience: Only during a few months between 1991 and 2010 did my GERD ever abate, and that was when I first started eating low carb. Those first 3 months of eating this way were bliss! I could lay flat, I didn't cough and choke on my own stomach acids, I had amazing relief! And I was eating lots of fats also, tons of fatty foods, as most low carb plans are NOT high protein as so many of its detractors (and the press) would have you believe, but rather high fat. The body uses fats for energy much more efficiently than it uses sugars and starches, which are part of the problem for many - if not most - GERD sufferers.
However, one slice of bread - low carb bread - or a single dish of low-carb cereal or one cookie, and it all came back. I could not tolerate ANY grains whatsoever. I have read reports of GERD sufferers who, after eliminating wheat in all its forms from their diet, found relief; apparently wheat sensitivity is quite common (as is lactose/dairy) although most are unaware, and eliminating these foods can help. But in my case, any grains at all in my system would start the reflux which, a few years later, became violent.
This is no secret. It is well-known by some in the medical profession and all of us who have lived it, that eliminating grains and sugars (even "natural sugars" - sugar is sugar is sugar) and in some cases dairy from the diet can bring relief from even the worst reflux issues for many people and do for them what myriad drugs had not, enabling them to start living their lives normally again. If you are having reflux issues but are wary of the NF surgery...if you have a failed wrap...if your surgery wasn't effective for whatever reason...there are some resources that you may want to check out. Read and learn and, maybe, give yourself some relief :).
Heartburn Cured, from the blog of Michael R. Eades, MD (medical)
How Low-Carb Improves Acid Reflux, from The Migraineur (anecdotal)
Reader who cured GERD with low-carb diet interviewed on TV, from The Healthy Skeptic (video)
Low Carb Plus Raw Veg for GERD, Life Extension Forum (anecdotal)
My GERD is Cured! Low-carb Hits the Mark, from Pain, Pain, Go Away! (anecdotal)
Low Carb and Heartburn (forum, anecdotal, multiple)
GERD Sufferers, Rejoice! from Mark's Daily Apple (informational)A Low Carb Diet for GERD
Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), but Thomas Cowan, MD (medical)
My own personal experience: Only during a few months between 1991 and 2010 did my GERD ever abate, and that was when I first started eating low carb. Those first 3 months of eating this way were bliss! I could lay flat, I didn't cough and choke on my own stomach acids, I had amazing relief! And I was eating lots of fats also, tons of fatty foods, as most low carb plans are NOT high protein as so many of its detractors (and the press) would have you believe, but rather high fat. The body uses fats for energy much more efficiently than it uses sugars and starches, which are part of the problem for many - if not most - GERD sufferers.
However, one slice of bread - low carb bread - or a single dish of low-carb cereal or one cookie, and it all came back. I could not tolerate ANY grains whatsoever. I have read reports of GERD sufferers who, after eliminating wheat in all its forms from their diet, found relief; apparently wheat sensitivity is quite common (as is lactose/dairy) although most are unaware, and eliminating these foods can help. But in my case, any grains at all in my system would start the reflux which, a few years later, became violent.
This is no secret. It is well-known by some in the medical profession and all of us who have lived it, that eliminating grains and sugars (even "natural sugars" - sugar is sugar is sugar) and in some cases dairy from the diet can bring relief from even the worst reflux issues for many people and do for them what myriad drugs had not, enabling them to start living their lives normally again. If you are having reflux issues but are wary of the NF surgery...if you have a failed wrap...if your surgery wasn't effective for whatever reason...there are some resources that you may want to check out. Read and learn and, maybe, give yourself some relief :).
Heartburn Cured, from the blog of Michael R. Eades, MD (medical)
How Low-Carb Improves Acid Reflux, from The Migraineur (anecdotal)
Reader who cured GERD with low-carb diet interviewed on TV, from The Healthy Skeptic (video)
Low Carb Plus Raw Veg for GERD, Life Extension Forum (anecdotal)
My GERD is Cured! Low-carb Hits the Mark, from Pain, Pain, Go Away! (anecdotal)
Low Carb and Heartburn (forum, anecdotal, multiple)
GERD Sufferers, Rejoice! from Mark's Daily Apple (informational)A Low Carb Diet for GERD
Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), but Thomas Cowan, MD (medical)
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Links: Doctor's Post-Op Guidelines after Laparoscopic Nissen #Fundoplication
This is a list for those who have questions, and also to show the VAST differences in how different surgeons instruct their patients. My own doctor was fairly conservative in his instructions, which was consistent with my own reading of patient accounts. It seemed that the people that had the most issues many times ate too much - or the wrong things - too soon, or resumed activity - or strenuous activity - too soon. Anyway, you will see below that recommendations do vary widely, and since we are all different, the doctor who actually did the surgery, along with our own gradual experimentation will be our best guide :).
Since there are so many, I'm just listing 10 to provide the basic ideas. But if you search the web, you will find LOTS more.
from Winchester Surgeons, Winchester, TN
from Aaron S. Bransky, MD, Plano, TX
from Casco Bay Surgery
, Portland, Maine
from Surgical Specialist of Plano, Plano, TX
from The Crawford Clinic, Anniston, AL
from Surgical Associates, PC (multiple locations)
from Newton-Wellesley Surgeons, Inc., Newton, MA
from Oregon Surgical Specialists, Medford, OR
from Tampa Bay Surgical Group, Bradenton, FL
From Cedar Surgical, Tacoma, WA
Since there are so many, I'm just listing 10 to provide the basic ideas. But if you search the web, you will find LOTS more.
from Winchester Surgeons, Winchester, TN
from Aaron S. Bransky, MD, Plano, TX
from Casco Bay Surgery
, Portland, Maine
from Surgical Specialist of Plano, Plano, TX
from The Crawford Clinic, Anniston, AL
from Surgical Associates, PC (multiple locations)
from Newton-Wellesley Surgeons, Inc., Newton, MA
from Oregon Surgical Specialists, Medford, OR
from Tampa Bay Surgical Group, Bradenton, FL
From Cedar Surgical, Tacoma, WA
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
7-Month Post-Op Update #fundoplication
First, I have been more careful with lifting/pushing since my June 15th entry, and have no more problems with that type of pain.
Second, my eating is going fine, still mainly pork that gets stuck, although I did have on incident of bread sticking. I still haven't tried my beloved raw cauliflower and broccoli, sooner or later I might but I got the sternest warnings about those from my surgeon, so I don't really want to try - yet.
Third, I've made these awful noises every so often since the surgery. I think they're awful anyway, my husband says it's not so bad...but on the Nissen Fundoplication group on Facebook there was a discussion of these sounds by some of the members; they described it like a seal barking (yeah, that's it!) and the conclusion is that it is caused by some sort of spasm in the esophagus. No word from them on iAdf it ever goes away, but I guess I will find that out on my own, given enough time.
Fourth, I am afraid to hope, but I think I MIGHT be burping! I don't know if that's good or bad, but I think I've burped a couple of times, not just the shallow burps from air in my esophagus before it ever reaches my wrap, but real burps. When it happens I'm not paying that much attention so that I can properly identify where it came from, but maybe...
Fifth, I bent over after eating one day, and felt this awful yet familiar feeling in my throat...it took a few seconds to recognize it as ACID! I was horrified, certain that my wrap was failing, and got myself pretty worked up. However, it hasn't happened since. Put together with what I just wrote, it would make sense that IF air is coming back up at times, it could bring a little bit of acid (which I know my stomach is still full of!) with it. But it doesn't seem to be a sign of wrap failure, since it only happened that once, a couple of weeks ago. I even tested my wrap by eating something and then laying down flat on my bed to fall asleep. Nothing. I'm good.
And happy :).
Second, my eating is going fine, still mainly pork that gets stuck, although I did have on incident of bread sticking. I still haven't tried my beloved raw cauliflower and broccoli, sooner or later I might but I got the sternest warnings about those from my surgeon, so I don't really want to try - yet.
Third, I've made these awful noises every so often since the surgery. I think they're awful anyway, my husband says it's not so bad...but on the Nissen Fundoplication group on Facebook there was a discussion of these sounds by some of the members; they described it like a seal barking (yeah, that's it!) and the conclusion is that it is caused by some sort of spasm in the esophagus. No word from them on iAdf it ever goes away, but I guess I will find that out on my own, given enough time.
Fourth, I am afraid to hope, but I think I MIGHT be burping! I don't know if that's good or bad, but I think I've burped a couple of times, not just the shallow burps from air in my esophagus before it ever reaches my wrap, but real burps. When it happens I'm not paying that much attention so that I can properly identify where it came from, but maybe...
Fifth, I bent over after eating one day, and felt this awful yet familiar feeling in my throat...it took a few seconds to recognize it as ACID! I was horrified, certain that my wrap was failing, and got myself pretty worked up. However, it hasn't happened since. Put together with what I just wrote, it would make sense that IF air is coming back up at times, it could bring a little bit of acid (which I know my stomach is still full of!) with it. But it doesn't seem to be a sign of wrap failure, since it only happened that once, a couple of weeks ago. I even tested my wrap by eating something and then laying down flat on my bed to fall asleep. Nothing. I'm good.
And happy :).
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Quick Update - Pain from ???
All things great, except for occasional belly pain. It has felt like acid so I've continued taking Ranitidine (one of the meds I used pre-op) on the assumption that I still have lots of acid down there, it's just no longer coming up. However the last couple of days I've had some sharp pains around the area of my wrap that started soon after twisting my body as I tossed a large bucket of water up over a railing. I've really slowed down a lot since then, as doing too much adds more pain, just in case a stitch started to tear through or something. No reflux or even heartburn, but just the pain.
Last night the pain kept me awake much of the night. It felt like acid but I'd taken the Ranitidine at bedtime, but it also felt sharp in that same spot. Logically I'm thinking, "OK, so maybe there's a little tear from the other day, and when I lay down a little acid leaks into it and causes so much pain?" Not sure...I don't think I'm going to call the doc just yet, but rather I will go back to small meals, softer food, and not a whole lot of water-bucket-tossing, and see if things calm down. If they don't - or get worse - or I start refluxing again - I'll be calling the doc for sure! Loving this post-NF life and not willing to go back! :)
Last night the pain kept me awake much of the night. It felt like acid but I'd taken the Ranitidine at bedtime, but it also felt sharp in that same spot. Logically I'm thinking, "OK, so maybe there's a little tear from the other day, and when I lay down a little acid leaks into it and causes so much pain?" Not sure...I don't think I'm going to call the doc just yet, but rather I will go back to small meals, softer food, and not a whole lot of water-bucket-tossing, and see if things calm down. If they don't - or get worse - or I start refluxing again - I'll be calling the doc for sure! Loving this post-NF life and not willing to go back! :)
Monday, June 6, 2011
What Caused THAT?!?!?
Yesterday we had a potluck after church. Not sure what I ate, but whatever it was, I had the same pain - BAD pain - that I had when I had eaten 3 salads plus a big slab of raw onion a few months ago. AWFUL pain! I know I didn't eat that many raw veggies...there were probably some in the potato salad but not that much really - it was mostly potatoes! And actually I was fine throughout the meal, it was only when I ate the dessert (yes, I go off-plan for these monthly potlucks at church, I love tasting everyone else's culinary offerings!): a sliver of cherry-something-or-other, and a sliver of pumpkin pie with a dollop - ok, a generous dollop - ok a MOUND - of whipped cream. I've eaten whipped cream without issue, even though it is so full of air.
So really, I don't know. Simethicone didn't help, nothing did. We had to leave apruptly. I went to my room and found the most comfortable position that I could on the bed with my bean bag at the head, and sweated it out, finally falling asleep from exhaustion once it started to subside, the pain had taken so much out of me.
Wish I knew what caused it, so I could avoid it in the future!
So really, I don't know. Simethicone didn't help, nothing did. We had to leave apruptly. I went to my room and found the most comfortable position that I could on the bed with my bean bag at the head, and sweated it out, finally falling asleep from exhaustion once it started to subside, the pain had taken so much out of me.
Wish I knew what caused it, so I could avoid it in the future!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Tomorrow, It Will Be 6 Months!
All is well. Still, the only thing I seem to choke on (unless I take a large swallow of something) is cooked pork. Do fine with beef and eat a lot of it. Do fine with bread (I make my own low carb loaves) and rice and other things that seem to cause choking in other folks with a wrap. Why pork? I still wonder about that...
Still haven't introduced raw broccoli or cauliflower even though I do fine with cole slaw, or the occasional carrot, salads of all kinds of greens, and raw onion (in moderation - too much will give me a SERIOUS bellyache!).
One change in the last month: I have started burping a little. I have always burped "shallow" burps, such as when I swallow an air bubble, it comes back up before it ever reaches my wrap. But just in the last week or so I have burped several times. They were small, and not the glorious belches of old - lol! - but nonetheless they brought relief from minor discomfort.
Which brings me to something else: I hope this isn't an indication that my wrap is losing integrity. I don't have heartburn or any reflux whatsoever, and I'm SO careful of my wrap...I probably worry too much :).
Still losing weight. Then again, still eating low carb and have increased my fats which has always caused weight loss for me. I'm about 50# down from my pre-surgery weight according to my own scale which never is the same as doctor's scales but should be close. Lost a pound last week, another 3# this week...and I hate what it is doing to my body but I told my surgeon I would lose weight so I'm sticking to it, being a woman of my word...
I'm drinking coffee again too! Did I mention that last month in my update? I know I've written that I LOVED coffee before the surgery, and it tasted awful to me for months afterward. Well it tastes great again :). This makes me happy. However, I have not gone back to my 6-7 big mugs of the stuff every day, and plan to have my cup in the morning and one after supper and that's it - decaf of course. And I still drink my decaf tea. And bottled water, and sugar-free drink mixes. I am drinking a lot more than I did before the surgery, I think - back then it was coffee or nothing. Now I am constantly drinking something or other. But only DECAF! And, of course, nothing carbonated.
And one last thing, which I have mentioned before but it is still the case that I have to take my 150 mg Ranitadine twice a day, or I get HORRIBLE belly pain. My stomach is undoubtedly still churning out way too much acid - just because it isn't shooting out like a volcano through my mouth and nose anymore doesn't mean it isn't there, I'm certain. If I miss a single dose, PAIN and lots of it! So I will continue with that as well. The only other cause of pain is heavy lifting, such as moving furniture. I thought that was just because I was post-op but just read on the Facebook NF group that this is common, sometimes even years after the surgery. That makes sense I suppose, if something causes pulling around the sutures or something.
All is well, most days I don't even think about my wrap anymore as everything comes second-nature to me now (chewing well, swallowing small amounts, not using the straw I'm given at restaurants or ordering pop, keeping a warm-almost-hot beverage nearby when eating cooked pork, etc.). Life is normal - a new normal, but normal nonetheless, and not so much changed from before as I had previously feared :).
Still haven't introduced raw broccoli or cauliflower even though I do fine with cole slaw, or the occasional carrot, salads of all kinds of greens, and raw onion (in moderation - too much will give me a SERIOUS bellyache!).
One change in the last month: I have started burping a little. I have always burped "shallow" burps, such as when I swallow an air bubble, it comes back up before it ever reaches my wrap. But just in the last week or so I have burped several times. They were small, and not the glorious belches of old - lol! - but nonetheless they brought relief from minor discomfort.
Which brings me to something else: I hope this isn't an indication that my wrap is losing integrity. I don't have heartburn or any reflux whatsoever, and I'm SO careful of my wrap...I probably worry too much :).
Still losing weight. Then again, still eating low carb and have increased my fats which has always caused weight loss for me. I'm about 50# down from my pre-surgery weight according to my own scale which never is the same as doctor's scales but should be close. Lost a pound last week, another 3# this week...and I hate what it is doing to my body but I told my surgeon I would lose weight so I'm sticking to it, being a woman of my word...
I'm drinking coffee again too! Did I mention that last month in my update? I know I've written that I LOVED coffee before the surgery, and it tasted awful to me for months afterward. Well it tastes great again :). This makes me happy. However, I have not gone back to my 6-7 big mugs of the stuff every day, and plan to have my cup in the morning and one after supper and that's it - decaf of course. And I still drink my decaf tea. And bottled water, and sugar-free drink mixes. I am drinking a lot more than I did before the surgery, I think - back then it was coffee or nothing. Now I am constantly drinking something or other. But only DECAF! And, of course, nothing carbonated.
And one last thing, which I have mentioned before but it is still the case that I have to take my 150 mg Ranitadine twice a day, or I get HORRIBLE belly pain. My stomach is undoubtedly still churning out way too much acid - just because it isn't shooting out like a volcano through my mouth and nose anymore doesn't mean it isn't there, I'm certain. If I miss a single dose, PAIN and lots of it! So I will continue with that as well. The only other cause of pain is heavy lifting, such as moving furniture. I thought that was just because I was post-op but just read on the Facebook NF group that this is common, sometimes even years after the surgery. That makes sense I suppose, if something causes pulling around the sutures or something.
All is well, most days I don't even think about my wrap anymore as everything comes second-nature to me now (chewing well, swallowing small amounts, not using the straw I'm given at restaurants or ordering pop, keeping a warm-almost-hot beverage nearby when eating cooked pork, etc.). Life is normal - a new normal, but normal nonetheless, and not so much changed from before as I had previously feared :).
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
That Darned Pork! (5-month post-op update)
Nothing really gets stuck that I eat anymore...except PORK! What is it about pork that it sticks?? I can eat any other kinds of meat, even beef brisket, but even the most tender pork roast gets stuck unless I give extra attention to chewing (very well) and swallowing (only the tiniest of amounts at a time)! I don't understand it. No problem with breads or rice, which other people have mentioned being problematic, although admittedly I eat very little of either since I'm a low carb eater. But pork...I just don't get it!
As far as belly pain or bloating, none of that unless I go crazy on raw greens and veggies. Which I occasionally do. But not often. If I take a simethecone first it helps.
Flatulence...nobody told me about that! I guess since I don't burp anymore, all that air has to go somewhere!
Acid...yeah, I'm guessing that my stomach is still churning it out. PPIs are so expensive, I can't afford to stay on them forever, but I take 150mg ranitidine morning and night and that seems to keep the acid levels down. Of course the acid isn't coming up anymore - the whole point of the surgery - but I can still feel it in my stomach, causing discomfort and burning, if I don't take something to keep it under control. Which the ranitidine does, and only costs about USD$4/month.
Altogether, it's all good :). Have adjusted to Life After a Wrap, and it isn't much different than life before a wrap. Except it's a lot better. A lot less painful. A lot more normal. A lot less hassle. Except for that darned pork...
As far as belly pain or bloating, none of that unless I go crazy on raw greens and veggies. Which I occasionally do. But not often. If I take a simethecone first it helps.
Flatulence...nobody told me about that! I guess since I don't burp anymore, all that air has to go somewhere!
Acid...yeah, I'm guessing that my stomach is still churning it out. PPIs are so expensive, I can't afford to stay on them forever, but I take 150mg ranitidine morning and night and that seems to keep the acid levels down. Of course the acid isn't coming up anymore - the whole point of the surgery - but I can still feel it in my stomach, causing discomfort and burning, if I don't take something to keep it under control. Which the ranitidine does, and only costs about USD$4/month.
Altogether, it's all good :). Have adjusted to Life After a Wrap, and it isn't much different than life before a wrap. Except it's a lot better. A lot less painful. A lot more normal. A lot less hassle. Except for that darned pork...
Friday, April 1, 2011
4 Months Today!
That's when I had my life-changing surgery! The first of every month is a milestone for me, and a reminder of what my life used to be like...
Everything is going really well, so I just have a couple of things I just want to mention on this monthiversary :).
First, I'm still losing weight, although whether it is still from the surgery or whether it is from the low-carb/high-fat diet that I follow is hard to say. Due to my constant digestive issues pre-op I didn't adhere as closely to this healthy eating plan as I had the first few years I'd been on it (it will be 7 years tomorrow), and there were many times I was too ill to cook and I just ate whatever someone else made for me. But I do know that I had lost much of my passion for creating and serving wonderful "cheap'n'easy" low carb meals, when I was in so much pain it was hard to be passionate about anything. I was just trying to get through every day the best that I could. But my passion is back, I'm shopping and cooking myself once again, and that could be a reason for my continuing loss. I do know that the clothes I was wearing pre-surgery are now baggy on me, although I haven't stopped at the doctor's office for a weigh-in in a couple of months. But my health is more important to me than my weight, and I'm enjoying that a lot!
Second, I posted something on the nissen fundoplication group on Facebook a few days ago in response to someone else's post, and I felt I should copy/paste it here as well. Probably THE most important thing I had to do after my surgery was to relearn, and listen to, my body's signals. They were different than before, and in so doing I have had to relearn how to eat. Here is what I wrote (with minor changes to protect the other person's privacy):
"...from the first sip I took after my surgery I have been paying very close attention to my body's signals. The first few weeks were hard because the signals felt different than they did for the first 53 years of my life, but I'm getting used to it now. The 2nd thing I had to retrain myself to do was to stop eating at the first sign of fullness. After a lifetime of continuing to eat even after I was no longer hungry (just because I enjoyed it so much) it has been hard to do. I don't want to stretch or in any way threaten the integrity of my wrap, and risk having issues later that other people have had; that's the big picture, and it is always on my mind when I am tempted to eat more even after my belly tells me it has had enough. It is a matter of listening and obeying the signals I get...probably the thing that has been working best for me is to not do anything else (watch TV, engage in conversation, etc) but to think about my eating: chewing very well, swallowing only small bits at a time, concentrating on how it feels going down and how my stomach is accepting it and if it is done eating or not (even if I still want more!)..."
So all is well after 4 months! No digestive issues of any kind, not even a hint of heartburn, and life is good :).
Everything is going really well, so I just have a couple of things I just want to mention on this monthiversary :).
First, I'm still losing weight, although whether it is still from the surgery or whether it is from the low-carb/high-fat diet that I follow is hard to say. Due to my constant digestive issues pre-op I didn't adhere as closely to this healthy eating plan as I had the first few years I'd been on it (it will be 7 years tomorrow), and there were many times I was too ill to cook and I just ate whatever someone else made for me. But I do know that I had lost much of my passion for creating and serving wonderful "cheap'n'easy" low carb meals, when I was in so much pain it was hard to be passionate about anything. I was just trying to get through every day the best that I could. But my passion is back, I'm shopping and cooking myself once again, and that could be a reason for my continuing loss. I do know that the clothes I was wearing pre-surgery are now baggy on me, although I haven't stopped at the doctor's office for a weigh-in in a couple of months. But my health is more important to me than my weight, and I'm enjoying that a lot!
Second, I posted something on the nissen fundoplication group on Facebook a few days ago in response to someone else's post, and I felt I should copy/paste it here as well. Probably THE most important thing I had to do after my surgery was to relearn, and listen to, my body's signals. They were different than before, and in so doing I have had to relearn how to eat. Here is what I wrote (with minor changes to protect the other person's privacy):
"...from the first sip I took after my surgery I have been paying very close attention to my body's signals. The first few weeks were hard because the signals felt different than they did for the first 53 years of my life, but I'm getting used to it now. The 2nd thing I had to retrain myself to do was to stop eating at the first sign of fullness. After a lifetime of continuing to eat even after I was no longer hungry (just because I enjoyed it so much) it has been hard to do. I don't want to stretch or in any way threaten the integrity of my wrap, and risk having issues later that other people have had; that's the big picture, and it is always on my mind when I am tempted to eat more even after my belly tells me it has had enough. It is a matter of listening and obeying the signals I get...probably the thing that has been working best for me is to not do anything else (watch TV, engage in conversation, etc) but to think about my eating: chewing very well, swallowing only small bits at a time, concentrating on how it feels going down and how my stomach is accepting it and if it is done eating or not (even if I still want more!)..."
So all is well after 4 months! No digestive issues of any kind, not even a hint of heartburn, and life is good :).
Monday, March 21, 2011
Other Adjustments
As I have been feeling so much better I have become very active. My days of living in my recliner on pain pills and other meds and doing as little as possible just to get by seem to be over, praise God! I have a couple of things about my ongoing recovery (in the broadest sense of the word) that I want to mention here.
First, even though I BELIEVE my post-op weight loss has subsided - there was no loss at all for about 2-3 weeks - I'm losing weight eating normally than I ever did before. I have eaten a low carb diet for about 7 years now, and as I've noted, during the early days of recovery I didn't worry too much about whether I ate carbs or not; I was eating so little that it didn't matter. And of course we all know that low carb eating isn't just about weight loss - far from it in fact. That it keeps my blood lipids in good balance and that I'm not harming my body with sugars is the main thing...anyway, I've always been able to lose, or stop losing, by adjusting my macronutrient balance. As long as I kept my fat intake at 75%, or thereabouts, and strictly limited my intake of sugars and starches, I would lose quite well. When I wanted to stop losing, I would continue to limit sugars and starches from my diet but wouldn't concern myself with forcing such high quantities of fats. NOW, however, although I still get most of my calories from fat, even without deliberately eating so much of it, I am losing. It is something very different to how my body responded pre-surgery. So, I've started dropping weight again which is something that I don't like, for many reasons, but that I'd promised my surgeon I would do. So I will have to put up with the rest which is really not as bad as not keeping my word.
Second: I'm sleeping a LOT! I'm just guessing here, but I'm thinking that my body - which will be adjusting to the changes in it for a whole year, according to the surgeon - is wondering what is going on with all of this activity it isn't used to! Between the GERD and some other health issues with which I've suffered the last few years (serious food poisoning with nerve damage causing motility issues and blockages in my digestive tract in 2006, a "cerebrovascular event" with some months of debilitating neuro issues in 2008, arthritis in my spine and elsewhere, just as examples) I have really lived a very sedentary life. Now, however, with most of my health issues either resolved or adapted to, I feel better than I have in probably 5 years. So I am doing more - a LOT more - than I have in that time. It is my guess that these 9, 10, and 11 hour nights of sleep are simply my body saying, "Whoa! Gotta catch up to you here!" That's ok, I can accommodate my body's needs :).
These are just a couple of things that I wanted to mention as my ongoing adjustment continues. I'm still eating well, experiencing no pain as long as I don't overeat which I don't do because I don't want to stress my wrap, still having the occasional food "stick" when I'm not paying attention and swallow too much at once (sticking seems to be related more to how much I swallow than what I'm eating, but that's different for everybody), and still marveling every single night at being able to lay down and sleep flat in my bed!
First, even though I BELIEVE my post-op weight loss has subsided - there was no loss at all for about 2-3 weeks - I'm losing weight eating normally than I ever did before. I have eaten a low carb diet for about 7 years now, and as I've noted, during the early days of recovery I didn't worry too much about whether I ate carbs or not; I was eating so little that it didn't matter. And of course we all know that low carb eating isn't just about weight loss - far from it in fact. That it keeps my blood lipids in good balance and that I'm not harming my body with sugars is the main thing...anyway, I've always been able to lose, or stop losing, by adjusting my macronutrient balance. As long as I kept my fat intake at 75%, or thereabouts, and strictly limited my intake of sugars and starches, I would lose quite well. When I wanted to stop losing, I would continue to limit sugars and starches from my diet but wouldn't concern myself with forcing such high quantities of fats. NOW, however, although I still get most of my calories from fat, even without deliberately eating so much of it, I am losing. It is something very different to how my body responded pre-surgery. So, I've started dropping weight again which is something that I don't like, for many reasons, but that I'd promised my surgeon I would do. So I will have to put up with the rest which is really not as bad as not keeping my word.
Second: I'm sleeping a LOT! I'm just guessing here, but I'm thinking that my body - which will be adjusting to the changes in it for a whole year, according to the surgeon - is wondering what is going on with all of this activity it isn't used to! Between the GERD and some other health issues with which I've suffered the last few years (serious food poisoning with nerve damage causing motility issues and blockages in my digestive tract in 2006, a "cerebrovascular event" with some months of debilitating neuro issues in 2008, arthritis in my spine and elsewhere, just as examples) I have really lived a very sedentary life. Now, however, with most of my health issues either resolved or adapted to, I feel better than I have in probably 5 years. So I am doing more - a LOT more - than I have in that time. It is my guess that these 9, 10, and 11 hour nights of sleep are simply my body saying, "Whoa! Gotta catch up to you here!" That's ok, I can accommodate my body's needs :).
These are just a couple of things that I wanted to mention as my ongoing adjustment continues. I'm still eating well, experiencing no pain as long as I don't overeat which I don't do because I don't want to stress my wrap, still having the occasional food "stick" when I'm not paying attention and swallow too much at once (sticking seems to be related more to how much I swallow than what I'm eating, but that's different for everybody), and still marveling every single night at being able to lay down and sleep flat in my bed!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
100 Days!
Yup, today is my 100-day mark since my surgery, which was the time that the doctor told me I needed to be extra careful. He said that full recovery will be a year but this first 100 days were "critical"...and so I am glad they are over...
And I feel great! I forget I've even had surgery most of the time, even when I'm eating I don't often think of it, but do remember most of the time to take tiny bites and eat slowly. But this is truly my new normal, and doesn't feel strange anymore.
My weight loss from the surgery seems to have let up, which is fine with me. I'm still a fat lady :) but this is how I've chosen to stay for the last 6+ years after my 90# weight loss in 2004 after changing my diet to a low carb/high fat plan. I will probably continue to lose, but it will be at my pace, and by my own choice as I adjust macronutrient levels to lose or level off as I see fit.
Overall, I am still so thankful that I've been able to have this surgery and that my life is so much better now! I have so much energy without the constant pain, the only thing stopping me is arthritis (spine, hips, right knee and foot) but I can take drugs for that and keep on going!
So this is my new life, and I love it!
And I feel great! I forget I've even had surgery most of the time, even when I'm eating I don't often think of it, but do remember most of the time to take tiny bites and eat slowly. But this is truly my new normal, and doesn't feel strange anymore.
My weight loss from the surgery seems to have let up, which is fine with me. I'm still a fat lady :) but this is how I've chosen to stay for the last 6+ years after my 90# weight loss in 2004 after changing my diet to a low carb/high fat plan. I will probably continue to lose, but it will be at my pace, and by my own choice as I adjust macronutrient levels to lose or level off as I see fit.
Overall, I am still so thankful that I've been able to have this surgery and that my life is so much better now! I have so much energy without the constant pain, the only thing stopping me is arthritis (spine, hips, right knee and foot) but I can take drugs for that and keep on going!
So this is my new life, and I love it!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
3-month Anniversary! and Uh-oh...I Shouldn't Have Done THAT! #fundoplication
Things have been going so well, and so smoothly for me these last few weeks, that I often forget that I've even HAD the surgery! Occasionally something will get stuck where my esophagus now narrows, but, once I can swallow again, a few very warm sips of tea usually help things pass; I don't think I've ever felt "stuck" for more than 10 minutes, thank God! To those of you who've been-there-done-that, it's an awful feeling, isn't it???
It was 3 months ago today that I had the surgery that changed my life. I still consider it nothing short of a miracle, given the hell that I was living with 24/7 for the last few years. (Although the GERD and hiatal hernia started 19 years before, symptoms were controlled with meds and diet until probably 4 years ago.) It hasn't been so long that those memories have faded much, and I thank God for using others to make this possible many times a day!
It is 2nd nature to drink my water in a restaurant without a straw now, and to order decaf tea instead of coffee or diet cola...not to say that I haven't wanted a good swig of a cold cola once or twice. But since I've never been much of a pop drinker to begin with, it quickly passes. And those have really been my only limitations. Of all the things that my surgeon warned me about, at least. I'm eating bread without issues, especially toasted but also "raw"; I make a low carb bread in my bread maker that is just about as close to the real thing as I've ever tasted, and it's moist and chewy - if anything were going to get stuck it would be that! And, in fact, it has gotten stuck in my wrap but just once. Again, as is typical for sticking incidents, they happen when I'm not paying attention - conversing or watching TV as I eat - and I swallow too much at a time.
The last "hurdle" will be raw vegetables. I've been eating a few, like salads and cole slaw, tomatoes (yes, I know they are really fruits), but that's about it. I've eaten a lot of cooked vegetables, almost everything I ever did, but I do avoid cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli due to their "gassiness". I have had a bite here and there of each when they are cooked, but for the most part I avoid them.
My surgeon warned me, though, that raw veggies will be something I probably won't be able to tolerate for a very long time, if ever. Still, I've had the occasional lettuce salad...so I thought nothing of ordering the house salad at Shaker's in Prudenville earlier today. It is lovely, with various greens, water chestnuts, tomato, onion, bacon, croutons, and their own secret dressing. I have always loved it. And tonight I ate 3 dishes of it. (Yes, friends, a free refill - AND homemade bread to boot! But I didn't eat the bread.) Then I ordered a hamburger patty with mushrooms and melted swiss, a thick slab of raw onion, and some mustard...Even though I couldn't eat it all (not even close, after all that salad!), I truly enjoyed what I was able to eat...until a few minutes after I finished.
God help me (literally, that was my prayer!), the pain in my gut...my left shoulder...it took my breath away. Every movement was agony. It hurt as much as right after the surgery, I haven't had pain like that since, until tonight. Was it the 3 dishes of salad? the slab of raw onion? or all of it together? I don't know but I thought I was going down, right there in the restaurant. The only thing that made it tolerable was that I've read reports of others with a wrap who ate the wrong thing, and the pain lasted about 30 minutes, and I could stand anything for 30 minutes...and I did, in the end, and of course lived to write about it :).
But I think Doc was right about the raw vegetables. A little here or there hasn't bothered me...but tonight I wasn't even thinking about my wrap, or limitations, only about the wonderful food...until it was too late.
So, overall, the last 3 months have been great healing and more enjoyable eating, a total absence of reflux or acid in my mouth, nose, and ear canals, no more waking up to projectile vomiting...I sleep laying down for the first time in years, and between being able to sleep in bed with my husband again, or getting so much more enjoyment from food, I'm not sure which I'm happier about! But those, as well as a normal life - bending down to tie my shoes, or pick up my grandson, without that awful pain and acid coming up...those are just things that I never thought I'd be able to do!
Yes, it was a great decision, it was worth the pain and the disruption to my life - but mostly to the lives of others who helped me and even made it possible - and it is even worth the pain when I forget about it and eat the wrong things :).
I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat!
It was 3 months ago today that I had the surgery that changed my life. I still consider it nothing short of a miracle, given the hell that I was living with 24/7 for the last few years. (Although the GERD and hiatal hernia started 19 years before, symptoms were controlled with meds and diet until probably 4 years ago.) It hasn't been so long that those memories have faded much, and I thank God for using others to make this possible many times a day!
It is 2nd nature to drink my water in a restaurant without a straw now, and to order decaf tea instead of coffee or diet cola...not to say that I haven't wanted a good swig of a cold cola once or twice. But since I've never been much of a pop drinker to begin with, it quickly passes. And those have really been my only limitations. Of all the things that my surgeon warned me about, at least. I'm eating bread without issues, especially toasted but also "raw"; I make a low carb bread in my bread maker that is just about as close to the real thing as I've ever tasted, and it's moist and chewy - if anything were going to get stuck it would be that! And, in fact, it has gotten stuck in my wrap but just once. Again, as is typical for sticking incidents, they happen when I'm not paying attention - conversing or watching TV as I eat - and I swallow too much at a time.
The last "hurdle" will be raw vegetables. I've been eating a few, like salads and cole slaw, tomatoes (yes, I know they are really fruits), but that's about it. I've eaten a lot of cooked vegetables, almost everything I ever did, but I do avoid cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli due to their "gassiness". I have had a bite here and there of each when they are cooked, but for the most part I avoid them.
My surgeon warned me, though, that raw veggies will be something I probably won't be able to tolerate for a very long time, if ever. Still, I've had the occasional lettuce salad...so I thought nothing of ordering the house salad at Shaker's in Prudenville earlier today. It is lovely, with various greens, water chestnuts, tomato, onion, bacon, croutons, and their own secret dressing. I have always loved it. And tonight I ate 3 dishes of it. (Yes, friends, a free refill - AND homemade bread to boot! But I didn't eat the bread.) Then I ordered a hamburger patty with mushrooms and melted swiss, a thick slab of raw onion, and some mustard...Even though I couldn't eat it all (not even close, after all that salad!), I truly enjoyed what I was able to eat...until a few minutes after I finished.
God help me (literally, that was my prayer!), the pain in my gut...my left shoulder...it took my breath away. Every movement was agony. It hurt as much as right after the surgery, I haven't had pain like that since, until tonight. Was it the 3 dishes of salad? the slab of raw onion? or all of it together? I don't know but I thought I was going down, right there in the restaurant. The only thing that made it tolerable was that I've read reports of others with a wrap who ate the wrong thing, and the pain lasted about 30 minutes, and I could stand anything for 30 minutes...and I did, in the end, and of course lived to write about it :).
But I think Doc was right about the raw vegetables. A little here or there hasn't bothered me...but tonight I wasn't even thinking about my wrap, or limitations, only about the wonderful food...until it was too late.
So, overall, the last 3 months have been great healing and more enjoyable eating, a total absence of reflux or acid in my mouth, nose, and ear canals, no more waking up to projectile vomiting...I sleep laying down for the first time in years, and between being able to sleep in bed with my husband again, or getting so much more enjoyment from food, I'm not sure which I'm happier about! But those, as well as a normal life - bending down to tie my shoes, or pick up my grandson, without that awful pain and acid coming up...those are just things that I never thought I'd be able to do!
Yes, it was a great decision, it was worth the pain and the disruption to my life - but mostly to the lives of others who helped me and even made it possible - and it is even worth the pain when I forget about it and eat the wrong things :).
I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
11 Weeks Post-Op
Cauliflower! Popcorn! These are 2 of the foods I reintroduced back into my diet this week. The cauliflower was in the form of fauxtatoes, a standard low carb dish where the cauli is cooked, mashed, and mixed with other ingredients (in my case, sour cream and butter). I ate about a half cup, with no problems or issues whatsoever!
Then I grew bold, and decided to try popcorn, heavily buttered. I ate less than 2 cups but had no problems. I ate one piece at a time, and chewed extremely well. And no issues :).
I still have problems with sticking now and again. Pork roast (too big a bite, concentrating on conversation instead of chewing) was one problem. And meatloaf, that I was trying to eat without ketchup or gravy, got stuck a different day. It was just too dry.
But overall things are just fine, no issues, and I am now eating everything except raw vegetables - although I am eating cole slaw and also greens in salads - and of course carbonated beverages.
I also have most of my energy back. Occasionally I will "hit a wall" but 90% of the time I'm living the kind of life I had many years ago, before all this - and my other issues - started. And it's all good :).
Then I grew bold, and decided to try popcorn, heavily buttered. I ate less than 2 cups but had no problems. I ate one piece at a time, and chewed extremely well. And no issues :).
I still have problems with sticking now and again. Pork roast (too big a bite, concentrating on conversation instead of chewing) was one problem. And meatloaf, that I was trying to eat without ketchup or gravy, got stuck a different day. It was just too dry.
But overall things are just fine, no issues, and I am now eating everything except raw vegetables - although I am eating cole slaw and also greens in salads - and of course carbonated beverages.
I also have most of my energy back. Occasionally I will "hit a wall" but 90% of the time I'm living the kind of life I had many years ago, before all this - and my other issues - started. And it's all good :).
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
60-Days Post Op - and BREAD!
As a low carber (for nearly 7 years), bread is rarely on my menu anyway. I eat a low carb, homemade version of it for toast and occasional sandwich (never been a big sandwich eater), but occasionally I will eat "real" bread, from the store, as long as it has 6gN/slice or less...I just don't care for everything they put into it, and try to avoid wheat where possible.
So. My surgeon had said that I shouldn't try to eat bread for a long time - I don't recall how long but I remember thinking that it wouldn't be a big deal since it isn't a regular part of my diet anyway, and I had his approval for my home made, grain-free version anyway.
I had tried toast a few weeks ago, with no problem. And today I had bread (the store-bought low carb version). I really REALLY wanted a burger with ketchup, it was the wee hours of the morning and I wasn't up to making my usual homemade kind, and there were 2 slices of bread left. I decided it was a good time to try bread.
I ate it carefully, swallowing only small bites, and not drinking a lot of my beverage with it. (Doc said the problem with bread is how much it swells up after it is swallowed.) I had no problem with sticking, and it didn't cause any discomfort afterward.
I was pleased. The only thing I haven't yet tried is raw vegetables, other than cole slaw; Dr. Fourman had told me I could try them "maybe after a year" - although he said that cole slaw would be ok now. I'll probably take that literally, and maybe try them at Christmastime this year :).
Anyway, I know I can't ever have carbonated beverages, no great loss to me since I've never been much of a pop drinker, so I don't even consider them. I was interested in the bread thing, though, and will be beyond thrilled when I can eat raw veggies again - no matter how long it takes.
So now, 2 months post op, I'm pretty much eating everything I want. I'm still very careful to chew thoroughly, and have had a few things get stuck when I didn't. It is a miserable feeling but it passes...
One other thing: I had mentioned bellyaches last week, and that I was planning to try taking the protonix every morning again. I did that, and it has solved that problem. No bellyaches or discomfort since.
I'm really pleased at how good I feel and how I can eat, and the lack of all the issues that have plagued me for years.
So. My surgeon had said that I shouldn't try to eat bread for a long time - I don't recall how long but I remember thinking that it wouldn't be a big deal since it isn't a regular part of my diet anyway, and I had his approval for my home made, grain-free version anyway.
I had tried toast a few weeks ago, with no problem. And today I had bread (the store-bought low carb version). I really REALLY wanted a burger with ketchup, it was the wee hours of the morning and I wasn't up to making my usual homemade kind, and there were 2 slices of bread left. I decided it was a good time to try bread.
I ate it carefully, swallowing only small bites, and not drinking a lot of my beverage with it. (Doc said the problem with bread is how much it swells up after it is swallowed.) I had no problem with sticking, and it didn't cause any discomfort afterward.
I was pleased. The only thing I haven't yet tried is raw vegetables, other than cole slaw; Dr. Fourman had told me I could try them "maybe after a year" - although he said that cole slaw would be ok now. I'll probably take that literally, and maybe try them at Christmastime this year :).
Anyway, I know I can't ever have carbonated beverages, no great loss to me since I've never been much of a pop drinker, so I don't even consider them. I was interested in the bread thing, though, and will be beyond thrilled when I can eat raw veggies again - no matter how long it takes.
So now, 2 months post op, I'm pretty much eating everything I want. I'm still very careful to chew thoroughly, and have had a few things get stuck when I didn't. It is a miserable feeling but it passes...
One other thing: I had mentioned bellyaches last week, and that I was planning to try taking the protonix every morning again. I did that, and it has solved that problem. No bellyaches or discomfort since.
I'm really pleased at how good I feel and how I can eat, and the lack of all the issues that have plagued me for years.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
A REAL Blog Post! (Update)
Just thought I'd post an update since I haven't done so in a while...
Healing continues. I'm able to eat just about anything now - including bread if it is toasted - but haven't done raw vegetables yet. Probably will be a very long time before I try those, other than cole slaw which the doc said I shouldn't have a problem with. But I'm eating most vegetables cooked now, even cabbage! I take anti-gas pills first to try and prevent bloating. No problems.
But about a week ago I started having some belly discomfort. I wondered if it was from the yerba mate but after 2 days without it, no improvement. It was worse after eating, and has progressively worsened day by day. I don't have a sense that there is anything wrong with my wrap itself, however, as it is still doing its job very well. So I backed off on my food portions (even though I don't overeat, or eat until I'm really full), and ate less more often...still no relief.
Last night I realized that I've gotten out of the habit of taking Protonix every morning. It's probably been a couple of weeks since I've taken it. Just because I don't have constant reminders of the acid in my stomach via the GERD, doesn't mean it isn't there, I'm guessing? So this morning I started back up on the Protonix, in the event that it's irritation from too much acid.
On the other hand - my activities are back up to normal levels (I cleaned all 8 bird cages today and vacuumed, moved some furniture, for example) and, even though others do everything within a few weeks of their surgery, my doctor gave me that 100-day thing, to go easy. Probably those other people were in better physical shape going into their surgery than I was...who knows?
So I still have a bit of "ruling out" to do before I'd have to call the doctor.
I may have mentioned that I stopped biting my nails? I've bitten them for half a century - yes, since I was a toddler - and now I am cutting them twice a week to keep them shorter than my fingertips. I don't like how they feel but I like how they look and they are turning out to be rather useful too! Having fingernails wasn't a side effect of the surgery that I had anticipated, but nail bits weren't part of my liquid and soft food diets after surgery - lol.
I continue to lose weight. I don't know how much exactly since my home scale isn't too accurate (but the needle keeps going lower), it was 27# when I was at my family doctor a couple of weeks ago. I can stop in there anytime to check, I'm sure. I know that this is a side effect that won't last forever :) but I'm back on my lowcarb diet that I've followed since April 3, 2004 - nearly 7 years - and, well, I'll write more about that in my Cheap'n'Easy Low Carb blog...
So all is well! I'm just loving being able to sleep laying down in my bed instead of up in my recliner, no waking with reflux in my ear canals or nose in the middle of the, no more worrying about every bite that goes into my mouth (although the reflux was there whether or not I ate anything, and no matter what it was)...just normal life. I can't stop being thankful for this, or for the opportunity to have it done. I just feel so normal now, I had forgotten what that felt like!
And that is my 8-week post-op update :).
Healing continues. I'm able to eat just about anything now - including bread if it is toasted - but haven't done raw vegetables yet. Probably will be a very long time before I try those, other than cole slaw which the doc said I shouldn't have a problem with. But I'm eating most vegetables cooked now, even cabbage! I take anti-gas pills first to try and prevent bloating. No problems.
But about a week ago I started having some belly discomfort. I wondered if it was from the yerba mate but after 2 days without it, no improvement. It was worse after eating, and has progressively worsened day by day. I don't have a sense that there is anything wrong with my wrap itself, however, as it is still doing its job very well. So I backed off on my food portions (even though I don't overeat, or eat until I'm really full), and ate less more often...still no relief.
Last night I realized that I've gotten out of the habit of taking Protonix every morning. It's probably been a couple of weeks since I've taken it. Just because I don't have constant reminders of the acid in my stomach via the GERD, doesn't mean it isn't there, I'm guessing? So this morning I started back up on the Protonix, in the event that it's irritation from too much acid.
On the other hand - my activities are back up to normal levels (I cleaned all 8 bird cages today and vacuumed, moved some furniture, for example) and, even though others do everything within a few weeks of their surgery, my doctor gave me that 100-day thing, to go easy. Probably those other people were in better physical shape going into their surgery than I was...who knows?
So I still have a bit of "ruling out" to do before I'd have to call the doctor.
I may have mentioned that I stopped biting my nails? I've bitten them for half a century - yes, since I was a toddler - and now I am cutting them twice a week to keep them shorter than my fingertips. I don't like how they feel but I like how they look and they are turning out to be rather useful too! Having fingernails wasn't a side effect of the surgery that I had anticipated, but nail bits weren't part of my liquid and soft food diets after surgery - lol.
I continue to lose weight. I don't know how much exactly since my home scale isn't too accurate (but the needle keeps going lower), it was 27# when I was at my family doctor a couple of weeks ago. I can stop in there anytime to check, I'm sure. I know that this is a side effect that won't last forever :) but I'm back on my lowcarb diet that I've followed since April 3, 2004 - nearly 7 years - and, well, I'll write more about that in my Cheap'n'Easy Low Carb blog...
So all is well! I'm just loving being able to sleep laying down in my bed instead of up in my recliner, no waking with reflux in my ear canals or nose in the middle of the, no more worrying about every bite that goes into my mouth (although the reflux was there whether or not I ate anything, and no matter what it was)...just normal life. I can't stop being thankful for this, or for the opportunity to have it done. I just feel so normal now, I had forgotten what that felt like!
And that is my 8-week post-op update :).
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Sometimes We Have to be Selfish
Yeah. Even Christians. Sometimes you pray and pray, but it doesn't change other people, people who are determined to do things that are detrimental to themselves and to those around them - even the most innocent...but who steadfastly believe they aren't harming anyone or that their own choices and desires are all that matter. Sooner or later they learn but almost always after the damage is done...and when faced with someone thus determined day in and day out, stress is the natural result.
I started to look up articles on stress and health, stress and healing, etc. but the articles are too numerous to list. Let's just say that the effects of stress are known to be detrimental not only to the emotional well-being of people, but to the physical as well, and when one is trying to recover from physical trauma (such as a major surgery for example) or physical illness, healing is slowed by about 40% according to some of the sources I just read.
So sometimes, after an incredible battle has been fought for health, including heavy financial investments, it is time to say, "I cannot let this work against me and everything I've been fighting for." The toll on the innocent will be heavy, although delayed; the toll on those continually being lied to or treated without respect or consideration, day after day, week after week, month after month can only continue when it is allowed.
Then we reach a point where we realize. And have to make the decision that it has got to stop.
I started to look up articles on stress and health, stress and healing, etc. but the articles are too numerous to list. Let's just say that the effects of stress are known to be detrimental not only to the emotional well-being of people, but to the physical as well, and when one is trying to recover from physical trauma (such as a major surgery for example) or physical illness, healing is slowed by about 40% according to some of the sources I just read.
So sometimes, after an incredible battle has been fought for health, including heavy financial investments, it is time to say, "I cannot let this work against me and everything I've been fighting for." The toll on the innocent will be heavy, although delayed; the toll on those continually being lied to or treated without respect or consideration, day after day, week after week, month after month can only continue when it is allowed.
Then we reach a point where we realize. And have to make the decision that it has got to stop.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
What a Difference a Day Makes!
It is now Tuesday morning. Yesterday I had almost no shortness of breath at all, and, although I got tired easily (I think I lost some ground in my healing process from the wrap surgery over the last week!) I was able to do pretty much everything I wanted to do. Just more slowly and with more breaks.
But the big thing is, I felt more normal than I have in I-don't-know-how-long! Certainly the last few years, when even "normal" days were painful and I had to be careful what I did and ate...but yesterday I ate what I wanted, nothing hurt me, and I did what I wanted, and nothing hurt me.
THIS is the start of the future that I have been looking forward to! I will continue to rest when tired of course (about in the middle of that 100-day stretch now), but my stamina I'm sure will increase as the days go on, and I can see what my future holds and it is all good!
But the big thing is, I felt more normal than I have in I-don't-know-how-long! Certainly the last few years, when even "normal" days were painful and I had to be careful what I did and ate...but yesterday I ate what I wanted, nothing hurt me, and I did what I wanted, and nothing hurt me.
THIS is the start of the future that I have been looking forward to! I will continue to rest when tired of course (about in the middle of that 100-day stretch now), but my stamina I'm sure will increase as the days go on, and I can see what my future holds and it is all good!
Monday, January 10, 2011
The Art of Compromise #lowcarb
There are a couple of schools of thought among low carbers...well, more than a couple, but for the purpose of this post, I will mention 2: one says that if you find low carb substitutes for the carby foods you are used to, you will have greater success; the other says if you learn to do without the carby foods you are used to, you will have greater success. Obviously neither is absolutely true 100% of the time, but each is mostly true to whoever lives by it.
I started out, nearly 7 years ago, believing the latter. And did very well with it for the first year or so. Of course there were some things I felt I could not forgo completely - such as Chinese buffet restaurants - so I compromised, with a trip to one per month. Gradually I evolved to the first school of thought, and learned or created ways to have what I wanted but in a safe, non-carby way. And this is pretty much how I have lived ever since. I do still choose a carby food or meal - or even a day! - once in a while but overall, 90% of the time at least, I eat low carb equivalents to the carby foods I enjoyed before.
After my nissen fundoplication last month I knew I would have to undergo diet changes, and one of them is giving up the so-called "gassy vegetables". This includes cauliflower, which meant no more mashed "potatoes"! Cauliflower is a substitute for quite a few low carb foods, but mostly, for me, it was my mashed "potatoes".
For the first few weeks of my recovery, when I was eating very soft foods to allow my stomach to heal, I didn't think or worry about carbs. It was hard enough just getting nutrition into my 3- or 4-bite minimeals. And I wasn't eating enough food to gain weight certainly. A side effect of this surgery is weight loss, even though it isn't a WLS, so I had no worries - I just had to eat what didn't hurt me. And one of those things was mashed potatoes. I kept a box of instant because they are easy to make up just a tiny amount, and they worked so well for me that I still have some on hand. And, since I can't make the standard fauxtatoes, I have found a way to compromise on mashed potatoes.
(Let me note here that regular potatoes, mashed, are way carbier than instant.)
I haven't done the carb count - haven't actually counted my carbs in years - but here is how I am able to enjoy mashed potatoes with my meal, once or twice a week:
- 1/4c heavy cream
- 1/4c (1/2 stick) real butter
- 1/2c full-fat sour cream
- 1/2c water
Combine the above in a small casserole dish and microwave on high for 4 minutes; remove and stir until smooth.
- 2/3c instant potatoes (mine have 14gN per 1/3c) which is less than the directions on the box, don't let that throw you if you try these
- 1/2c finely shredded cheese (I've been using colby-jack)
- S&P to taste
Stir in cheese until melted; add instant potato flakes and stir until smooth; S&P to taste; return to microwave for 1 minute on high; stir one last time.
This makes 4 nice-sized servings. For the potato flake portion, that's 7gN carbs. Everything else that's in there is very low carb. I'm guessing maybe 10gN per portion. Which isn't a bad compromise at all!
Here is the disclaimer: If you believe you shouldn't consume any starches at all, then don't make this for yourself. If you are morally opposed to potato flakes, then please don't purchase them as your hard-earned cash will be supporting their continued use.
As time goes on and I am seeing that I need to alter my low carb lifestyle to fit within the limitations of my "wrap" (the affectionate pet name that most of us call our fundoplications) I am hopeful that I will be able to continue to eat as low carb as I have for so long. But if I need to get creative, I will not be afraid - I will venture forth and find new ways of doing old things. Because that's MY school of thought :).
I started out, nearly 7 years ago, believing the latter. And did very well with it for the first year or so. Of course there were some things I felt I could not forgo completely - such as Chinese buffet restaurants - so I compromised, with a trip to one per month. Gradually I evolved to the first school of thought, and learned or created ways to have what I wanted but in a safe, non-carby way. And this is pretty much how I have lived ever since. I do still choose a carby food or meal - or even a day! - once in a while but overall, 90% of the time at least, I eat low carb equivalents to the carby foods I enjoyed before.
After my nissen fundoplication last month I knew I would have to undergo diet changes, and one of them is giving up the so-called "gassy vegetables". This includes cauliflower, which meant no more mashed "potatoes"! Cauliflower is a substitute for quite a few low carb foods, but mostly, for me, it was my mashed "potatoes".
For the first few weeks of my recovery, when I was eating very soft foods to allow my stomach to heal, I didn't think or worry about carbs. It was hard enough just getting nutrition into my 3- or 4-bite minimeals. And I wasn't eating enough food to gain weight certainly. A side effect of this surgery is weight loss, even though it isn't a WLS, so I had no worries - I just had to eat what didn't hurt me. And one of those things was mashed potatoes. I kept a box of instant because they are easy to make up just a tiny amount, and they worked so well for me that I still have some on hand. And, since I can't make the standard fauxtatoes, I have found a way to compromise on mashed potatoes.
(Let me note here that regular potatoes, mashed, are way carbier than instant.)
I haven't done the carb count - haven't actually counted my carbs in years - but here is how I am able to enjoy mashed potatoes with my meal, once or twice a week:
- 1/4c heavy cream
- 1/4c (1/2 stick) real butter
- 1/2c full-fat sour cream
- 1/2c water
Combine the above in a small casserole dish and microwave on high for 4 minutes; remove and stir until smooth.
- 2/3c instant potatoes (mine have 14gN per 1/3c) which is less than the directions on the box, don't let that throw you if you try these
- 1/2c finely shredded cheese (I've been using colby-jack)
- S&P to taste
Stir in cheese until melted; add instant potato flakes and stir until smooth; S&P to taste; return to microwave for 1 minute on high; stir one last time.
This makes 4 nice-sized servings. For the potato flake portion, that's 7gN carbs. Everything else that's in there is very low carb. I'm guessing maybe 10gN per portion. Which isn't a bad compromise at all!
Here is the disclaimer: If you believe you shouldn't consume any starches at all, then don't make this for yourself. If you are morally opposed to potato flakes, then please don't purchase them as your hard-earned cash will be supporting their continued use.
As time goes on and I am seeing that I need to alter my low carb lifestyle to fit within the limitations of my "wrap" (the affectionate pet name that most of us call our fundoplications) I am hopeful that I will be able to continue to eat as low carb as I have for so long. But if I need to get creative, I will not be afraid - I will venture forth and find new ways of doing old things. Because that's MY school of thought :).
Friday, January 7, 2011
Some Health Thoughts, and Other Miscellany
I'm sorry, I can't wrap my head around the "muscle pull" diagnosis that I came home from the hospital with. It makes no sense to me whatsoever. I couldn't BREATHE for heaven's sake! Pressure around my ribs...anyway, none of it makes sense. It has been suggested that perhaps my muscles are being used so differently due to the rearranging of my guts and how I move and hold my body since the pain and bloating are gone, compared to before with the constant pain. This may hold a little more water, but there is another theory - not put forth by the doctor - that makes more sense.
My friend Connie suggested this could be part of a detox, something that doctors don't acknowledge or discuss. I have been losing weight quickly, releasing toxins stored in body fat, plus I gave up caffeine cold turkey the day before my surgery on December 1st, plus I was on so many heavy-duty painkillers through much of December that were trying to get out of my system...this makes a lot of sense also, that getting rid of all of the effects and toxins from caffeine and drugs and whatever is being left as the fat is going - well, wherever fat goes.
Since I have been out of the hospital, the dyspnea has been improving. However, my chest still feels pressure, and tight inside, like I can't take a deep breath. I can, but it feels like I can't, and there is tightness when I do. And I have to push and force out the last of the air. And I am fatigued. And I have pain around my ribs.
Today I had a fundoplication-related issue. Drank some chocolate milk, and the pain was horrible! My stomach wanted to sent it back but since the surgery nothing can come back up. I was near tears, and there's nothing to do. I took a Zofran but how can I tell if it helped? It didn't give me relief, but maybe kept it from being even worse...but that was one miserable half-hour.
And today I started with a UTI as well. I'm drinking tons of water (and a little decaf tea)...taking cranberry (3000 mg every few hours)...taking OTC phenazopyridine hydrochloride tablets...but it has been miserable, as only those who have suffered from these can understand.
Between all of the above, I just feel like a sick person. I thought by this time, over 5 weeks post op, I would be feeling better than I have in years, not like a sick person. But I want to go to bed and sleep until it is all fixed and better and I can feel and act and BE healthy...
The black depression seems to have started lifting. It started to lift, oddly enough, in the hospital. I have some theories as to why, but they're probably wrong anyway. I have felt, for the last few days, merely "blue" which is an improvement over "black". I even played my keyboard today, the first time I have actually wanted to play, or felt inspired to play, in weeks. And I'm starting to feel I want to get back to cooking and creating in my kitchen. I have a ways to go to get back to joy, but it will come, if this path continues. God is hearing the prayers of those who are interceding for me, and my own.
And now I'm going to make another post, about Sleepee...
My friend Connie suggested this could be part of a detox, something that doctors don't acknowledge or discuss. I have been losing weight quickly, releasing toxins stored in body fat, plus I gave up caffeine cold turkey the day before my surgery on December 1st, plus I was on so many heavy-duty painkillers through much of December that were trying to get out of my system...this makes a lot of sense also, that getting rid of all of the effects and toxins from caffeine and drugs and whatever is being left as the fat is going - well, wherever fat goes.
Since I have been out of the hospital, the dyspnea has been improving. However, my chest still feels pressure, and tight inside, like I can't take a deep breath. I can, but it feels like I can't, and there is tightness when I do. And I have to push and force out the last of the air. And I am fatigued. And I have pain around my ribs.
Today I had a fundoplication-related issue. Drank some chocolate milk, and the pain was horrible! My stomach wanted to sent it back but since the surgery nothing can come back up. I was near tears, and there's nothing to do. I took a Zofran but how can I tell if it helped? It didn't give me relief, but maybe kept it from being even worse...but that was one miserable half-hour.
And today I started with a UTI as well. I'm drinking tons of water (and a little decaf tea)...taking cranberry (3000 mg every few hours)...taking OTC phenazopyridine hydrochloride tablets...but it has been miserable, as only those who have suffered from these can understand.
Between all of the above, I just feel like a sick person. I thought by this time, over 5 weeks post op, I would be feeling better than I have in years, not like a sick person. But I want to go to bed and sleep until it is all fixed and better and I can feel and act and BE healthy...
The black depression seems to have started lifting. It started to lift, oddly enough, in the hospital. I have some theories as to why, but they're probably wrong anyway. I have felt, for the last few days, merely "blue" which is an improvement over "black". I even played my keyboard today, the first time I have actually wanted to play, or felt inspired to play, in weeks. And I'm starting to feel I want to get back to cooking and creating in my kitchen. I have a ways to go to get back to joy, but it will come, if this path continues. God is hearing the prayers of those who are interceding for me, and my own.
And now I'm going to make another post, about Sleepee...
My 1st Post-Fundoplication "I-shouldn't-have-eaten-that" MEGA-PAIN! #lowcarb #fundoplication
First, what I ate today. Breakfast was smoked turkey and salami, chopped up together, with some dijon mustard drizzled on, then swiss melted over the top.
Never made it to lunch...due to story below...
Supper, because of my stomachache from lunch, was a small bowl of plain yogurt, full fat of course, with a little vanilla and a drop of liquid sucralose. I had no appetite but wanted something creamy and this was very nice.
So early this afternoon I was out and getting hungry, had a pill I needed to take, and saw one of those little plastic bottles of chocolate milk near the cash register. Grabbed it, thinking it would (a) take away the hunger pangs, (b) enable me to take my pill, and (c) be a nice little sweet treat since I hadn't had any in FOREVER. For about 26g of carbs it would be great! So I bought it, drank it, and by the time I got home I was WRITHING and moaning in pain. It was just awful! I've never had pain like that since my surgery last month, and I hope I never do again! My stomach wanted to send it back up but of course I can no longer vomit so it had no place to go. I took a Zofran but have no way of knowing if it helped at all, maybe the episode would have lasted longer or been more severe (how, I can't imagine!) without it? Anyway, it lasted nearly 30 minutes and that was a very very long 30 minutes!
My doctor didn't, but many surgeons who do these surgeries recommend against chocolate afterward. Now I know why...
So not much eaten today. Probably less than 35g of carbs, and definitely less than $5 total.
Never made it to lunch...due to story below...
Supper, because of my stomachache from lunch, was a small bowl of plain yogurt, full fat of course, with a little vanilla and a drop of liquid sucralose. I had no appetite but wanted something creamy and this was very nice.
So early this afternoon I was out and getting hungry, had a pill I needed to take, and saw one of those little plastic bottles of chocolate milk near the cash register. Grabbed it, thinking it would (a) take away the hunger pangs, (b) enable me to take my pill, and (c) be a nice little sweet treat since I hadn't had any in FOREVER. For about 26g of carbs it would be great! So I bought it, drank it, and by the time I got home I was WRITHING and moaning in pain. It was just awful! I've never had pain like that since my surgery last month, and I hope I never do again! My stomach wanted to send it back up but of course I can no longer vomit so it had no place to go. I took a Zofran but have no way of knowing if it helped at all, maybe the episode would have lasted longer or been more severe (how, I can't imagine!) without it? Anyway, it lasted nearly 30 minutes and that was a very very long 30 minutes!
My doctor didn't, but many surgeons who do these surgeries recommend against chocolate afterward. Now I know why...
So not much eaten today. Probably less than 35g of carbs, and definitely less than $5 total.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Low Carbing and My Hospital Experience #lowcarb
I mentioned that my doctor tried to keep me on a "heart healthy" diet in the hospital. All those grains and sugars (natural and otherwise) would have made me sick...but let me back up. As they took my history, both this time and when I was admitted for my surgery last month, the nurses always gave me an incredulous look both when I told them that I am not diabetic, and when I told them that I don't have cholesterol issues. I'm a middle-aged fat woman after all, how can this be?
I can tell you how it would NOT be, and that is if I were following a "heart healthy" diet!
The doctor finally consented to give me a regular diet, so I would "have more choices" (read: eat more fats!) And after that I chose real egg dishes (an omelet NOT made with fake eggs), real meats/fish, things with cheese on them, etc. What I ate isn't that important; what is important is that I was in charge of what I ate, and didn't have to choose my foods from the low-fat/high-carb menu.
Anyway, while I was in there, I had every heart and lung and blood test there is, in addition to a test to check the integrity of my wrap (the nissen fundoplication that was done on Dec. 1st) - everything was perfect...beautiful...all clear...words my doctor used.
(On a side note, the nutritional lady from the dietary dept. came up to my room at one point to ask me if I had an explanation for the 20# weight loss over the last month, or did they need to check into a possible cause? Weight loss is a side effect of the nissan fundoplication I had, as I explained to her, along with low carb eating - even though I ate some carby foods during the first couple of weeks after the operation.)
To me, this plus the fact that I AM a middle-aged fat woman without cholesterol or diabetes issues, is all due to the low carb (5-10% of my intake), high fat (75ish%), moderate protein (15-20%) diet that I have lived on for nearly 7 years, and nothing else...especially considering I DID have a "prediabetic" label stuck on me, and high triglycerides and LDL with low HDL, in the months prior to starting my lowcarb way of life.
Once again, for the bazillionth time, the low carb way of life has been vindicated.
I can tell you how it would NOT be, and that is if I were following a "heart healthy" diet!
The doctor finally consented to give me a regular diet, so I would "have more choices" (read: eat more fats!) And after that I chose real egg dishes (an omelet NOT made with fake eggs), real meats/fish, things with cheese on them, etc. What I ate isn't that important; what is important is that I was in charge of what I ate, and didn't have to choose my foods from the low-fat/high-carb menu.
Anyway, while I was in there, I had every heart and lung and blood test there is, in addition to a test to check the integrity of my wrap (the nissen fundoplication that was done on Dec. 1st) - everything was perfect...beautiful...all clear...words my doctor used.
(On a side note, the nutritional lady from the dietary dept. came up to my room at one point to ask me if I had an explanation for the 20# weight loss over the last month, or did they need to check into a possible cause? Weight loss is a side effect of the nissan fundoplication I had, as I explained to her, along with low carb eating - even though I ate some carby foods during the first couple of weeks after the operation.)
To me, this plus the fact that I AM a middle-aged fat woman without cholesterol or diabetes issues, is all due to the low carb (5-10% of my intake), high fat (75ish%), moderate protein (15-20%) diet that I have lived on for nearly 7 years, and nothing else...especially considering I DID have a "prediabetic" label stuck on me, and high triglycerides and LDL with low HDL, in the months prior to starting my lowcarb way of life.
Once again, for the bazillionth time, the low carb way of life has been vindicated.
It is good to be home again. Had a lovely #lowcarb breakfast of b/s chicken breast strips cooked in olive oil just until cooked through and very tender, seasoned with onion/garlic powders and sea salt, with melted havarti on top. Then I scraped all the crispy bits off the bottom of the skillet and sprinkled them on top...SO good!The hospital food wasn't bad, but they are all about low-fat, low-sodium and even the "low carb" staples are carby. I ordered a cream soup for one meal - guess what? It wasn't thickened with cream :(. Misnomer there...Anyway, I know what I am getting at home, and it is delicious and filling and lovely. Will blog later about my hospital stay at http://chiachatter.blogspot.com and about the food aspects of my stay at http://cheapeasylowcarb.blogspot com. http://amplify.com/u/bkqam
Monday, January 3, 2011
Back in the Hospital - UGH!!
I just blogged about it at my other blog, now too tired to blog here but please go there to see what's what. Not that they know yet...but it's all there...
So...Dangit!
(NOTE: If you are seeing this on Facebook, please go to my blog - chiachatter.blogspot.com - to see my whole post. I don't make my points in the first paragraph, which is all that shows up on my Facebook page :).)
Here's my update. After spending 6 hours in the ER getting morphine for "chest pain" I was admitted. I came in because I can't catch my breath, and there is a band of tightness or pressure around my rib cage. I have pain that waxes and wanes but it isn't my chief complaint - or even any complaint. But they seem focused on "chest pain" - once they see a history of cardiac issues they zoom right in on that, and don't seem to hear me when I tell them this type of pain feels like it is from this band of pressure, and is nothing like any angina I've ever had. It has been determined that I have chest pain and nothing I can say is changing that. That I can't catch my breath unless I've got O2 flowing up my nostrils seems to be an unwelcome distraction to them.
All of my tests have come back fine. Tomorrow will be a lot more tests, mostly cardiac but I will also have to repeat a test that is related to my fundoplication that was the most miserable awful test I've ever had. I have to take about 8 swallows of the most vile awful evil liquid ever devised and have pictures taken after each one. I'm not sure why my gut surgeon is involved since everything is going really well, digestively speaking. But he is and I am glad that they are looking into all possible causes, even if they seem determined to look at the wrong problem.
I'm having issues with the "heart healthy" diet they have me on, that is totally opposite to what I have eaten for the last nearly-7 years, that has gotten my blood lipids back into normal ranges and has kept my blood sugar normal and on a good path. Both of these issues they keep asking me about, and can't seem to believe that this overweight middle-aged woman doesn't have high cholesterol (as defined by bad science) and diabetes. The nurse told me that my blood lipids would be checked in the morning to determine if I need statins. I told her that I will not be taking statins, and she reiterated that we don't know if I will need them or not. I will save that particular "battle" for after the results come back since that will be a moot point. At another hospital I was put onto a statin drug. I asked for my blood results and they were totally fine, yet the doctor argued with me that I needed to be on a statin due to my "risk factors" - ie, a high-fat diet, age, and weight. The way the medical profession thinks is way beyond me...but I never took their drug then and won't now
So back to the "heart healthy" diet. I will become a diabetic if I have to stay on this for very long. No fats, lots of carbs as both sugars and starches. It is infuriating, and if I'm not discharged tomorrow, the doctor and I will have to revisit the diet that he ordered for me. I am pretty much decided that I can get through a day or 2 without eating any of it, if my options remain limited to unhealthy foods.
But mainly, I want to know why I am short of breath whenever my O2 is off. That is not the goal of the hospitalist that is handling my case (and must be all of about 17 years old!), but it is mine. Make it so I can breathe as well as I was breathing 48 yours ago, and send me home. And I will be a happy camper :)
Here's my update. After spending 6 hours in the ER getting morphine for "chest pain" I was admitted. I came in because I can't catch my breath, and there is a band of tightness or pressure around my rib cage. I have pain that waxes and wanes but it isn't my chief complaint - or even any complaint. But they seem focused on "chest pain" - once they see a history of cardiac issues they zoom right in on that, and don't seem to hear me when I tell them this type of pain feels like it is from this band of pressure, and is nothing like any angina I've ever had. It has been determined that I have chest pain and nothing I can say is changing that. That I can't catch my breath unless I've got O2 flowing up my nostrils seems to be an unwelcome distraction to them.
All of my tests have come back fine. Tomorrow will be a lot more tests, mostly cardiac but I will also have to repeat a test that is related to my fundoplication that was the most miserable awful test I've ever had. I have to take about 8 swallows of the most vile awful evil liquid ever devised and have pictures taken after each one. I'm not sure why my gut surgeon is involved since everything is going really well, digestively speaking. But he is and I am glad that they are looking into all possible causes, even if they seem determined to look at the wrong problem.
I'm having issues with the "heart healthy" diet they have me on, that is totally opposite to what I have eaten for the last nearly-7 years, that has gotten my blood lipids back into normal ranges and has kept my blood sugar normal and on a good path. Both of these issues they keep asking me about, and can't seem to believe that this overweight middle-aged woman doesn't have high cholesterol (as defined by bad science) and diabetes. The nurse told me that my blood lipids would be checked in the morning to determine if I need statins. I told her that I will not be taking statins, and she reiterated that we don't know if I will need them or not. I will save that particular "battle" for after the results come back since that will be a moot point. At another hospital I was put onto a statin drug. I asked for my blood results and they were totally fine, yet the doctor argued with me that I needed to be on a statin due to my "risk factors" - ie, a high-fat diet, age, and weight. The way the medical profession thinks is way beyond me...but I never took their drug then and won't now
So back to the "heart healthy" diet. I will become a diabetic if I have to stay on this for very long. No fats, lots of carbs as both sugars and starches. It is infuriating, and if I'm not discharged tomorrow, the doctor and I will have to revisit the diet that he ordered for me. I am pretty much decided that I can get through a day or 2 without eating any of it, if my options remain limited to unhealthy foods.
But mainly, I want to know why I am short of breath whenever my O2 is off. That is not the goal of the hospitalist that is handling my case (and must be all of about 17 years old!), but it is mine. Make it so I can breathe as well as I was breathing 48 yours ago, and send me home. And I will be a happy camper :)
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Jan 2nd...Not As I Planned
Today I have been short of breath all day, with some pressure/weight in my chest, and pain around my rib cage. Duration over 12 hours. Aspirin hasn't helped. I didn't take a sublingual nitro because it's not like any angina pain I've ever had. (I was diagnosed with prinzmetal's angina in 1997.) My sister is going to drive up here and take me to the ER. Hubby has to go to work, it is his 2nd night on his new job. The ER where I had the surgery is an hour away, that's where she wants to go. I will update when I know what's going on.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Dec.1 - Jan. 1 - The First Month
(NOTE: If you are seeing this on Facebook, please go to my blog - http://chiachatter.blogspot.com - to see my whole post. I don't make my points in the first paragraph, which is all that shows up on my Facebook page :).)
I've already written a lot here almost every day so there isn't much to write about, I just have 2 things, really.
First, I'm about 1/3 of the way through the 100 days. (The surgeon told me it will take a full year to recover completely, but the first 100 days will be "critical" and that I need to go easy on myself during this time. I interpret "go easy" as to rest when I get tired, don't push it when something causes pain, eat what is comfortable in my stomach and no more, and things like that.) I have periods of time when I feel almost normal and go about doing housewifely things and then suddenly I can't do one more thing and have to stop. Right then and there. I simply cannot continue whether or not I want to, or even need to. I'm anticipating that these next couple of months will find me gradually able to do more and more until that doesn't happen anymore.
And I have to once more bring up this depression. I described it to my husband yesterday like this: Yes, I can laugh at a joke, I can carry on a normal conversation, I can put smileys in my emails and FB updates (though I don't feel them these days, they are more like punctuation), I can make myself act and talk normally. I can feel happy about something - such as Pete's new job after all these months of unemployment - but underneath there is a blackness that doesn't go away. It is like a shiny red boat racing across the waves, the sun is shining brightly, the boat is bouncing happily across the lake...but underneath it the water is dark, black even, and icy cold. The boat may be bright and bouncy, but it is surrounded and supported wholly by something dark and cold and ready to devour it at any minute. That is how it is. Exactly.
I talk about my food choices and adapting and how this surgery has changed my diet in my other blog. Between what I've been posting here and there, I think I've given a pretty complete picture of how life has been as it pertains to the nissen fundoplication surgery, and hopefully it will be helpful to someone else who needs this surgery, or has had it and just wants to compare notes.
I've already written a lot here almost every day so there isn't much to write about, I just have 2 things, really.
First, I'm about 1/3 of the way through the 100 days. (The surgeon told me it will take a full year to recover completely, but the first 100 days will be "critical" and that I need to go easy on myself during this time. I interpret "go easy" as to rest when I get tired, don't push it when something causes pain, eat what is comfortable in my stomach and no more, and things like that.) I have periods of time when I feel almost normal and go about doing housewifely things and then suddenly I can't do one more thing and have to stop. Right then and there. I simply cannot continue whether or not I want to, or even need to. I'm anticipating that these next couple of months will find me gradually able to do more and more until that doesn't happen anymore.
And I have to once more bring up this depression. I described it to my husband yesterday like this: Yes, I can laugh at a joke, I can carry on a normal conversation, I can put smileys in my emails and FB updates (though I don't feel them these days, they are more like punctuation), I can make myself act and talk normally. I can feel happy about something - such as Pete's new job after all these months of unemployment - but underneath there is a blackness that doesn't go away. It is like a shiny red boat racing across the waves, the sun is shining brightly, the boat is bouncing happily across the lake...but underneath it the water is dark, black even, and icy cold. The boat may be bright and bouncy, but it is surrounded and supported wholly by something dark and cold and ready to devour it at any minute. That is how it is. Exactly.
I talk about my food choices and adapting and how this surgery has changed my diet in my other blog. Between what I've been posting here and there, I think I've given a pretty complete picture of how life has been as it pertains to the nissen fundoplication surgery, and hopefully it will be helpful to someone else who needs this surgery, or has had it and just wants to compare notes.
Dec.1 - Jan. 1 - The First Month [ #lowcarb #fundoplication ]
(NOTE: If you are seeing this on Facebook, please go to my blog - cheapeasylowcarb.blogspot.com - to see my whole post. I don't make my points in the first paragraph, which is all that shows up on my Facebook page :).)
Today I started out with a half-slice of an oppsie with butter and SF (and seed-free) blackberry jam, knowing I was going out for lunch. Got to the restaurant and ordered a chicken strip basket, figuring I'd split it with my grandson, and take any leftovers home. I ordered applesauce rather than coleslaw since I can't have raw vegetables (and I LOVE coleslaw!), split that with my grandson. Then they brought the "basket" - it was a PLATTER of humongous chicken breasts, 3 of them, with a delicious corn meal breading, plus about a half-pound of fries. (All this for $6.99 - if you're ever in Houghton Lake, MI stop in at Bobber's!) I ate half of one of the pieces of chicken but removed the coating first, and about 5 fries, plus some of the applesauce. I was very very full - too full, I found out when I stood up - but after walking around KMart I was more comfortable. Several hours later I made my grilled cheese sandwich using Oopsies, but couldn't finish it. That's what I've had today. Tonight I am nauseated for some reason...hat big pile of cheese on my sandwich, I'm thinking...
So, a lot has changed in one month. I'm losing weight like crazy but I don't know how much because my scale isn't accurate; I'll be at the surgeon's office again mid-month and will find out then.
I went into this knowing it would change how I eat forever, and that I would have to adapt. No choice. I am adapting, but I read accounts of people who, 10 years after this same surgery, are able to eat anything, and I find myself wishing the next decade away :). I miss my raw vegetables like salads and coleslaw as examples, but also cauliflower dipped in ranch and other things. If I could have one thing back, it would be raw veggies. But I wouldn't trade them for what I endured before the surgery!
I'm about 1/3 of the way through my 100 days. (The surgeon told me it will take a full year to recover completely, but the first 100 days will be "critical" and that I need to go easy on myself during this time.) I interpret "go easy" as to rest when I get tired, don't push it when something causes pain, eat what is comfortable in my stomach and no more, and things like that. As I have written about extensively in my other blog, there are a lot of physical and emotional issues that I didn't expect and that are impacting me nearly as much as the surgery has. But back to food...
I eat "mostly low carb" but admittedly not fully yet. There are days my stomach just wants something gentle, and that is usually yogurt or the inside of a baked potato, and anything else just doesn't work. In addition, since I'm still eating such small amounts, I'm not feeling any blood sugar impact from them. I've always felt physical responses after eating carbs, such as an about-to-come-down-with-the-flu-like feeling, a mild headache, and a faster pulse. Of course, since such a huge change has been made to my digestive tract, what and how I eat certainly has changed, and how I feel when I eat has changed, how meds affect me has changed...so maybe the whole response to carbs has also...still, it is a non-issue at this point, but how I eat is still changing almost day by day.
So that's my report for the first month after my nissen fundoplication, at least as it pertains to how I eat - mostly low carb, but now completely...yet.
Today I started out with a half-slice of an oppsie with butter and SF (and seed-free) blackberry jam, knowing I was going out for lunch. Got to the restaurant and ordered a chicken strip basket, figuring I'd split it with my grandson, and take any leftovers home. I ordered applesauce rather than coleslaw since I can't have raw vegetables (and I LOVE coleslaw!), split that with my grandson. Then they brought the "basket" - it was a PLATTER of humongous chicken breasts, 3 of them, with a delicious corn meal breading, plus about a half-pound of fries. (All this for $6.99 - if you're ever in Houghton Lake, MI stop in at Bobber's!) I ate half of one of the pieces of chicken but removed the coating first, and about 5 fries, plus some of the applesauce. I was very very full - too full, I found out when I stood up - but after walking around KMart I was more comfortable. Several hours later I made my grilled cheese sandwich using Oopsies, but couldn't finish it. That's what I've had today. Tonight I am nauseated for some reason...hat big pile of cheese on my sandwich, I'm thinking...
So, a lot has changed in one month. I'm losing weight like crazy but I don't know how much because my scale isn't accurate; I'll be at the surgeon's office again mid-month and will find out then.
I went into this knowing it would change how I eat forever, and that I would have to adapt. No choice. I am adapting, but I read accounts of people who, 10 years after this same surgery, are able to eat anything, and I find myself wishing the next decade away :). I miss my raw vegetables like salads and coleslaw as examples, but also cauliflower dipped in ranch and other things. If I could have one thing back, it would be raw veggies. But I wouldn't trade them for what I endured before the surgery!
I'm about 1/3 of the way through my 100 days. (The surgeon told me it will take a full year to recover completely, but the first 100 days will be "critical" and that I need to go easy on myself during this time.) I interpret "go easy" as to rest when I get tired, don't push it when something causes pain, eat what is comfortable in my stomach and no more, and things like that. As I have written about extensively in my other blog, there are a lot of physical and emotional issues that I didn't expect and that are impacting me nearly as much as the surgery has. But back to food...
I eat "mostly low carb" but admittedly not fully yet. There are days my stomach just wants something gentle, and that is usually yogurt or the inside of a baked potato, and anything else just doesn't work. In addition, since I'm still eating such small amounts, I'm not feeling any blood sugar impact from them. I've always felt physical responses after eating carbs, such as an about-to-come-down-with-the-flu-like feeling, a mild headache, and a faster pulse. Of course, since such a huge change has been made to my digestive tract, what and how I eat certainly has changed, and how I feel when I eat has changed, how meds affect me has changed...so maybe the whole response to carbs has also...still, it is a non-issue at this point, but how I eat is still changing almost day by day.
So that's my report for the first month after my nissen fundoplication, at least as it pertains to how I eat - mostly low carb, but now completely...yet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)