So, I had a few crummy days, but today was not one of them. I’m going off of my theories and those of a fellow gastrectomy patient I’ve connected with, Aimee. She’s 8 months post surgery and able to offer lots of great advice. She believes (and I now am also a believer) that protein input during the day is critical.

The day I puked was a day I didn’t eat enough and what I did eat was mostly carbs. Oatmeal claims to have 5 grams of protein, but before I said goodbye to my stomach, oatmeal always left me starving early in the morning.

I think the trouble now is that I don’t know when I’m hungry. Think of everything you’ve been taught to listen to your body, only eat when you’re hungry and stop eating when you’re full….kinda all messed up now. Apparently when I get that ’empty’ feeling that now replaces hunger, it’s too late because I just can’t shovel it down fast enough to catch up. Also, hydration is an issue. And being that it’s 103 today, I’ve got weather going against me. So, if I’m not consuming food, I’m drinking water. Pretty much, I have to eat 24/7. When I do that, I’m actually able to get in enough calories and then I don’t very nauseous. And then to I have the energy to walk.

My theory is that there are 4 keys:
1. Protein-rich continuous eating
2. Hydration
3. Walking
4. Nap when you’re tired

We’ll see if my theory continues to hold true. I was able to do that today and felt great.

I’m getting 4 cans of “formula” now just overnight while I sleep. I’m holding steady on my weight currently. We’ll see if I can eat more so I can drop another can. Probably the most obnoxious thing right now with sleep is that stupid j-tube. It’s the only thing that hurts, giving me random shooting pains. I know it keeps you nourished, but when you’re sitting and getting random pains, you just want it out. And since weight loss is a concern I have, hopefully I can increase my calories everyday enough to hold my weight and quickly say goodbye to “the last tube” in my body. I was able to eat a slice of pizza today, along with a dinner. So, if I can keep that up, I should be in good shape.

One last item to note, I get grumpy by the end of the night. I do find that my body starts shutting down much harder than ever before now, So when it’s time for the kiddos to go to bed, mommy too is ready to wind down. Gives me worries about how I’ll be able to keep up when I return to work. Usually sleep deprivation allowed me to get it all done. I know it’ll all work out, but I will still think about it.

I’m tired, so goodnight again. Congrats for reading this far!

Of course after posting I was doing well, that caused me to have some off days. Trying to figure out the common denominator here. Since eggo with peanut butter went well 2 days ago, I had just the eggo with peanut butter. Bad idea…sugar crash away. Maybe the key is protein with it because the only difference was I didn’t take the time to cook bacon. Maybe I’ll be brave another day to retry that combination. So, that day was just full of nausea. Started out bad and couldn’t get totally ahead of it.

So today, went with the oatmeal. Food went down fine, but my body got a little pissed off at me for not feeding it enough today (I will assume protein is the must have here). I’m still on the tube feedings, so no huge disaster or anything. Cut it down to 4 cans. I had gained weight the other morning, but pretty sure I lost that today. We’ll check during my morning weight check.

And since this is a “bummer” post, I’ll say I’m a terrible sleeper. Before surgery, I sometimes had that crazy restless legs thing going on when I try to fall asleep. It’s been back since my surgery. It’s almost like my legs are upset at me for letting the muscle dwindle away while I don’t run for a while. Maybe I should remind them it’s 100 degrees out with 99% humidity and I’m two weeks after major surgery. For some reason I don’t think they’ll listen. And sleep isn’t stellar with my j-tube in and a healing tummy. It’s like pregnancy sleeping, and that was never cool either.

So, time to put my game face on. I’ll be all cliché and say “Bring it!” Try to focus on a protein with breakfast and see how it goes. Maybe it was the coffee….I’ll gladly add some of that back in also. 😉

So, I was trying to get home Friday night after making sure some soft foods agreed with me for breakfast and lunch. But unfortunately, I felt nauseous all day Friday from when I woke up until I went to bed. They gave me zofran, but that did nada. The only thing that worked was sleep to feel mildly better.

So I had gotten my hopes up during the day Friday, but it just wasn’t going to happen. I figured out the problem late Friday night when they gave me the pain meds that mix acetaminophen with hydrocodone through my feeding tube. Immediately when they gave it to me, I start heaving. Unpleasant, to say the least! But woke up Saturday morning feeling perfectly fine. Had no more hydrocodone and felt fine all day.

Managed to get down 1 scrambled egg, a12oz Gatorade G2, then Cheerios with almond milk. No nausea, felt fine. A bit tough to get the eggs down mentally, but everything feels fine with my new plumbing design. Ironically, the most pain I have eating appears to be from my sore throat from when they had the intubation tube and the endoscope down my throat.

Big going home exit:

Tonight, got to figure out how to run my feeding tube at home, but most importantly got to lay down in bed with my children and read them their bedtime stories. Today has been an exhausting day, for sure. But one thing about little kids, they’re too much fun to hang around with to feel sorry about yourself and this surgery. If anything, your recovery goes better because you’ve got more to do than watch MD Anderson’s tv and walk the hall in the surgery waiting area one more time. At least now my walks can be at home or around the block.

And on a funny note, while face timing the kids during their bath the other night, H farted so loud I could hear it through FaceTime. I just died laughing and then I was in so much pain from all the laughing. But it was hilarious. For as much emphasis as these doctors have about gas, it seemed a fitting addition to some post gastrectomy humor.

Goodnight. I will be enjoying a nice comfortable sleep in my own bed tonight, uninterrupted by any nurses, blood draws, you name it. It’s going to be awesome!