The novelty is wearing off now. In the first couple of weeks since my gastrectomy, eating and drinking was all new, and wondering each day 'what will I try today?' was almost fun. Its not fun anymore. For the past 15 years I have been on countless diets, gaining and losing around 6 - 10 kilos each effort. Since my gastrectomy, I feel as though I have been on another diet, only now, it has hit me that this 'diet' is FOR LIFE. I am sad that eating and drinking will never be the same again. Because I feel so great (and normal!?!), I sometimes attack my food with the same gusto that I used to, until I forget to chew enough and it gets 'stuck' going down and a wave a nausea and pain overcomes me. Last night whilst eating my lovely homemade lasagna, I made the same mistake and after the first mouthful, found myself vomitting over the kitchen sink. This in itself was an usual experience (only that mouthful came up) as it was the first and only time that I had vomitted since leaving hospital. (Whilst in hospital I vomitted saliva 2 or 3 times during those first sips of fluids).
When I wake in the morning, my 'tummy' feels fine and settled and I can manage to eat my bowl of porridge beautifully. But as the day goes on and I eat more food, the gurgling and bubbling increases. I am getting used to it. Sometimes it lasts for 20 minutes after eating, sometimes up to an hour. This is rather annoying for someone who loves their food! Its a strange feeling to not have an appetite too, but this does not bother me. Occassionally I have felt something and wondered 'was that my tummy rumbling?', knowing full well that it wasn't. I finally got my period after an absence of about 7 weeks. That was a little concerning but not shocking; my body has just been through some trauma. I know that this will be making me feel a little more tired than usual this week. And perhaps my B12 stores are lessoning now too. (It also doesn't help that I stay up too late at night!).
My weight seems to have stabilised for the moment. I have lost about 8 kilos. I thought that I may have lost more by now. (I do have a little excess and can certainly do with losing about another 6 kilos). And I still haven't sorted out my 'fluid intake'. When I did the shopping the other day, I bought about 6 different types of drinks, ranging from sustagen and gatorade (powders), to ribena, cordial and soft drinks. I feel that I need to drink more and often feel thirsty. Oh, and I bought some ice blocks which I just LOVE, particularly the Frosty Fruits. I have gone off ice cream for the moment, one of my favourite past times, and I still haven't had a coffee. It just smells foul! This is difficult as I so REALLY loved my morning coffee. I can manage to drink about a third of a cup of sweet tea and will put some chamomile tea on the shopping list for next week (willing to give anything a go!).
Well today I feel much better than I did yesterday, and will endeavour to get to bed earlier from here on in!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
All is Well !
Well I cannot believe how remarkably well I am! My life is almost back to normal..... It will be 4 weeks tomorrow since I had my stomach removed. A lot has happened since then, and every new day has certainly been better than the last. I met with my surgeons last week, they were just delighted with my recovery so far. I had the J-tube removed (yay!). I won't be needing any tube feeding anytime soon; I am eating so very well! My pathology results were clear; although I can't remember all of the details so will request a copy of this soon.
I have been to a couple of work meetings, although this only involved sitting down for most of the day, I managed just fine. I have been out for dinner and did a little bit of dancing! I've helped out at a BBQ Fundraiser, spent a full day out at Willowbank Raceway, been to a fair, and done grocery shopping. I started driving again about a week and a half ago, with some little trips to start with. I do know my limits and find myself taking that 30 minute nap in the afternoon if I feel like it. But that is not everyday.
Sometimes I wonder if my 'bubble is going to burst' and I will crash all of a sudden one day soon...I have just exceeded my 'recovery expectations' so much! It took mum such a long long time to get to where I am at the moment (14-15 months) and she suffered terribly with dumping syndrome, not being able to eat a large variety of foods and dramatic weight loss. To date I have lost 8 kilos, 4 of those whilst in hospital. I am eating whatever I like; just smaller portions. I find that breads, pastas and rice fill me up quicker than they used, or maybe its just that they are taking longer to break down than before. Not sure. I haven't had any alcohol, nor do I have the desire, and I haven't gone back to coffee. (I missed it for the first few weeks). But I do enjoy a half a cup of tea every now and then.
I find it difficult to drink water and consequently had a mild urinary tract infection strike me at the end of last week. I can drink my glass or two of sustagen each day with no worries, but water just doesn't go down well. Will keep practising. Ice cream goes down well!
My kids have been great....Cooper is such a compassionate, caring soul. He kisses me goodnight and tells me 'I hope you feel better really soon mum'. I caught him singing a song to himself the other day, it was very tuneful...some of the lyrics were, 'and my mummy had her stomach removed...and grandma and grandpa came to look after us when mummy was in hospital....and grandma did mummy's jobs...'. Its very cute (for a 4yr old) and makes me laugh and feel very loved. Zara is more into the technical side of things, throwing out comments like 'did they take your belly out mum?' and 'but I can still see it'. A very inquisitive soul, who has also tried to take advantage of mummy and got out of going to day care because of comments like 'but I neeeeeeeed you mummy' (tears included). I am so very glad that I have been so open and honest with my children, as young as they are.... And so my life now goes on, with swimming lessons for the kids tomorrow morning, a business meeting for me tomorrow night and an all day sports day at Cooper's kindy on Wednesday! And tomorrow I shall feel better than I did today........
I have been to a couple of work meetings, although this only involved sitting down for most of the day, I managed just fine. I have been out for dinner and did a little bit of dancing! I've helped out at a BBQ Fundraiser, spent a full day out at Willowbank Raceway, been to a fair, and done grocery shopping. I started driving again about a week and a half ago, with some little trips to start with. I do know my limits and find myself taking that 30 minute nap in the afternoon if I feel like it. But that is not everyday.
Sometimes I wonder if my 'bubble is going to burst' and I will crash all of a sudden one day soon...I have just exceeded my 'recovery expectations' so much! It took mum such a long long time to get to where I am at the moment (14-15 months) and she suffered terribly with dumping syndrome, not being able to eat a large variety of foods and dramatic weight loss. To date I have lost 8 kilos, 4 of those whilst in hospital. I am eating whatever I like; just smaller portions. I find that breads, pastas and rice fill me up quicker than they used, or maybe its just that they are taking longer to break down than before. Not sure. I haven't had any alcohol, nor do I have the desire, and I haven't gone back to coffee. (I missed it for the first few weeks). But I do enjoy a half a cup of tea every now and then.
I find it difficult to drink water and consequently had a mild urinary tract infection strike me at the end of last week. I can drink my glass or two of sustagen each day with no worries, but water just doesn't go down well. Will keep practising. Ice cream goes down well!
My kids have been great....Cooper is such a compassionate, caring soul. He kisses me goodnight and tells me 'I hope you feel better really soon mum'. I caught him singing a song to himself the other day, it was very tuneful...some of the lyrics were, 'and my mummy had her stomach removed...and grandma and grandpa came to look after us when mummy was in hospital....and grandma did mummy's jobs...'. Its very cute (for a 4yr old) and makes me laugh and feel very loved. Zara is more into the technical side of things, throwing out comments like 'did they take your belly out mum?' and 'but I can still see it'. A very inquisitive soul, who has also tried to take advantage of mummy and got out of going to day care because of comments like 'but I neeeeeeeed you mummy' (tears included). I am so very glad that I have been so open and honest with my children, as young as they are.... And so my life now goes on, with swimming lessons for the kids tomorrow morning, a business meeting for me tomorrow night and an all day sports day at Cooper's kindy on Wednesday! And tomorrow I shall feel better than I did today........
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