April, I wish that we lived close to one another, too.. It would be wonderful to have someone to share this experience with. It's really hard for others not on this forum to understand, but they mean well. I'm thru the honeymoon phase of this surgery and am now wondering why me? I wonder if any of you do? I eat at least 5 meals a day, usually 3 small meals and 2-3 snacks. A sample day, I usually eat an asiago bagel every morning. (I wake up needing food, now..) Around 10am I usually have a rice cake with cool whip on it and a piece of fruit cut up on the cool whip (strawberries, peaches, or banannas). If I eat lunch out, it's a McDonald's sweet tea and a hamburger, a Wendy's baked potato and sweet tea, or a soft taco from Taco Bell and a small sweet tea. Otherwise, if I bring my lunch, it's chicken salad on a croissant, a half of a leftover piece of chicken or fish and a vegetable, or baked potato. For afternoon snack I usually have a bag of cheerios or a yogurt smoothie, and for dinner usually I grill chicken or fish and have rice or a baked potato with it and a vegetable. I eat a lot of spaghetti and rice, and I didn't used to. I eat alot of carbs and starches. They do better on my stomach. Sweets, fried foods, and chocolate go right thru me. I used to love candy bars, fried chicken tenders, and loaded baked potatoes. Won't work anymore..
I had my surgery at Cleveland Clinic in Ft. Lauderdale, but my insurance company grudgingly allowed it. I've called my surgeon's office, but I can't speak with a nutritionist there without making an appointment so that they get paid for it. Now, I'm having fun trying to get a referral authorized for a visit. Eventually, I may have to just pay out of pocket.
I know it's kind of personal, (so don't worry about answering if you don't want to), but has your bipolar disorder been alright thru this for you? I have bipolar disorder and my mood really dipped before surgery, because I was so scared. It's been up since surgery, but it's taking a dip now because I'm worried about my weight and I work with a bunch of nurses who really try to be helpful but lately make me feel bad. I saw my counselor today kind of just as a check-in and he believes I'm going thru a rehabilitative disability, in English meaning that I'm working my way thru new body image issues.
Mom, you might want to bring a special stuffed animal or picture of your daughter to the hospital with you. I did and it really helped. It was a piece of me..
Liz, I was surprised how many nutritionists/registered dieticians there are, but they won't see me because a colecomy totally scares them and they say it's not something that they're trained in. Among my calls, I've called 3 local hospitals, 2 local universities, local surgeons, and my insurance company. Shands and Cleveland Clinic are the only ones that will agree to see me. I'm waiting to probably be denied by my insurance company.
When did you have your colectomy? I feel so bad for you having to go thru all of the pitfalls that you're going thru. I'm glad that your infection is finally under control, and pray that you'll soon feel better. It's good that you are a nurse because it's good that you're knowledgeable about infection, but I admire you because I know how difficult it is to take care of yourself vs. helping someone else going thru this. I wen't thru LPN training, but still got queezy changing my dressings.
Robin, what can I say? You sound so sweet and calm. You come across to me like you have the patience of a saint.. I want some of that! <<SMILE>> You're encouraging and I appreciate it. After being in the hospital, I do want to stop and smell the roses and give thanks every chance that I get.
Pete, it's good to meet you. You'll find lots of encouragement and family on this sight. I only had 1 surgery, the total colectomy, but I don't remember rectal pressure. Ugh. Did you have any stitches in your rectum for this second surgery? It hasn't been too long since your last surgery, but if you're having pressure and/or pain, please call your surgeon's office and ask about it. If nothing else, it'll give you a better piece of mind to know what you're going thru is normal and temporary, or it shouldn't be happening.. They're the specialists, but we know our bodies best.. Since my surgery, sometimes I think that I'm paranoid because my body keeps changing and I keep feeling different tender spots.. Keep trudging kiddo, you're doing the right thing. Ask..