Worried About Weight
Five more days until surgery, and it appears that all the eating I’ve done hasn’t helped at all. Potluck after potluck. No help whatsoever. I am still at 125. I am already underweight per BMI, which probably contributes to my inability to keep my feet warm. When I mention that I want to actually gain weight rather than lose weight, many others roll their eyes and say something about wanting my problem. The fact of the matter is from what I’ve read, most patients lose 10-20 pounds from being on the liquid diet. I CANNOT lose that weight. I do not have 10-20 pounds to lose. I don’t even have five to lose.
There’s not much else I can do other than to constantly feed myself while recovering. As many hours as I am awake, I’ll need to be on intake mode. RV will be juicing things for me. I have a Vita-Mix at home too, so we’ll blend as much as we can. Another friend offered to make soup and risotto for me when I can actually have soft, but more solid than liquid, foods. I’ll take what I can get, so if anyone else is a blending/soup/soft foods genius, apply!
Another thing that freaks me out is anesthesia. The whole idea of it freaks me out. You’re not really asleep, but you are basically unconscious and unaware for the duration of the surgery. They do everything in a period of time that does not even exist for you. SO WEIRD. You’ll count down with the anesthesiologist and black out. When you come to, your face is numb, and you’re drooling everywhere. SO WEIRD.
There are some people who videotape their recovery, and while I don’t know if I’m brave enough to POST that stuff online, I might just take photos/videos for my own record. I won’t have much else to write about anyway since all I’ll be doing is consuming as much as I can.
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good luck!!! there are so many delightful shake recipes out there….but eat up now!!
God that makes me mad when people make light of a person's inability to gain weight. I don't have that problem myself anymore- after the accident I gained a bunch of weight I haven't been able to get off myself. But I was like you for my whole life before that. This is serious business, but you're not going to gain much i n five days. My suggestion is to blend avocados into whatever you're juicing. But also to get active as soon as you can once you recover, because for me, there was a delay- I lost weight while I was laid up, but gained a BUNCH in the weeks after physical therapy was over. Good luck!!
Eeeeek. Well, I'm planning on making a batch of curried pumpkin soup soon, so if that sounds good, you or RV should let me know when it would be appropriate to bring some over. :)
Avocados! That is brilliant. I also have some whey powder and other protein powders to blend into everything. I'm curious to see just how little I will be able to eat with everything banded/wired shut. If it takes me an hour to even get a cup into the system, I'm screwed… :/
I hate when people say things like “I wish I had that problem” and the like when it comes to someone trying to gain weight. I hope you're able to put on the extra pounds that you need!
Did you redesign your blog recently? I like it! Good luck with everything. Maybe a few big bowls of movie popcorn might do the trick?
Yikes! I make a few creamy (in texture not actual cream) soups that I'd be happy to bring over once you are feeling up to guests (or I'll just leave it with the BF). Having a fast metabolism sucks just as much as having a slow one (me). either way you aren't happy.
I'm sending tons of good thoughts your way. You should make sure someone lets everyone know you got through it okay!
Good luck with everything!
Can you have thicker shake-like things? Or does whatever you consume have to be pretty low viscosity? I've never been on a liquid diet (it sounds rough) so I'm curious…
Hmmm… I'll have to create a bacon fat milkshake for you. What if you just drink more? Beer is great for making me gain weight.
It hasn't changed much for awhile now. :)
I'll have to talk to the nutritionist or have them talk to me about what I should or shouldn't eat… I'm sure as soon as my mouth is ready for it, I can drink thicker shake-like things.
That sounds gnarly… but maybe palatable. Haha. :)
I'm sitting here trying to drink my iced tea through a straw without moving my jaw from its closed position, to try to imagine what it's like.
I can't even really use a straw for the first part of recovery. No suction. We bought basters – you know, giant eye droppers. ;) Hopefully they work.
I hope everything goes well! If it's a common procedure, it should be fine! You have a great support group!
I underwent surgery 3 years ago for a bone graft on my right hand. Went under and it was rather unpleasant to wake up to find something different about my right hand. To suddenly have it and not to have it (immobile for almost 2 months).
Also had major teeth surgery 2 years ago where I couldn't use a straw for weeks although not “wired shut”. Are you seriously wired shut? So that you can't speak? Even porridge? I cheated a lot by making food pieces super small and soaked them in liquids.
Although I am interested in the observations, discoveries, etc. you will make during this time. How people treat you differently…how food has changed for you…how some things became easier…etc.