So, I was reading the post about how some people are banded and some not at all. Makes me very jealous. Due to unfortunate multiple splits on my left side, I had to be wired and I am about at the end of my rope...
No one thinks to tell you that liquid-only IN means liquid-only OUT. Here I am with my swollen face, starving, unable to teach, low energy and to top it all off, a case of HEMORRHOIDS! Honestly, is this what I signed up for? To add insult to injury, I'm entertaining my "monthly visitor," which means I am extra ravenous and emotional and in order to deal with my horrendous cramps I have to drink about half a bottle of children's motrin because they don't make the adult stuff in liquid form...At this point, I really can't even say that it's going to be worth it.
Sorry to be such a whiney loser. I know that feeling sorry for myself isn't going to help me get through this. It just seems that my doc is so conservative. The good news is that he expects to be able to cut the wires next Thursday--which means I will have been wired just a little over 3 weeks (original prognosis was 3-6 weeks). However, I'll just be trading in wires for bands for who knows how long.
Hopefully, I'll be able to report a happy ending to this saga soon! Thanks for listening...
2 Weeks Post-Op: The graphic truth about being wired...
Moderator: bbsadmin
I am so sorry to hear of all your troubles! My heart really goes out to you. If you haven't done so already - get yourself a giant tub of Benefiber! It really disolves down to nothing - I can even hide it in my very picky dd's water. I remember that pain of hemorrhoids after my dd was born - if no one has ever suffered through this it can be very painful. ((((((hugs))))))))
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WhiteLurcher
- Posts: 173
- Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2006 12:48 pm
- Location: Near Glasgow, Central Scotland
Hey singer19
I'm really sorry to hear your having such a crappy time of it. Thankfully most of the folks on here have had good surgery experiences but for some of us the unexpected happens, God knows why?
I'm sitting here 21 days post first surgery and 6 days post second surgery, as my first didn't go right!! Alas the second didn't go right either so I have to wait till next Monday to see what they plan for me next, they were rather stumped when I saw them on Monday past. 
Who knows!
We all have great expectations when we sign up for this, so its not hard to understand why you feel down when things go wrong, and your seem to be having a one-bad-thing-after-another phase at the mo! So moan all you want I think you've earned it.
At least next Thursday is a step in the right direction, there is light at the end of the tunnel
Hang in there your doing great
I'm really sorry to hear your having such a crappy time of it. Thankfully most of the folks on here have had good surgery experiences but for some of us the unexpected happens, God knows why?
I'm sitting here 21 days post first surgery and 6 days post second surgery, as my first didn't go right!! Alas the second didn't go right either so I have to wait till next Monday to see what they plan for me next, they were rather stumped when I saw them on Monday past. Who knows!We all have great expectations when we sign up for this, so its not hard to understand why you feel down when things go wrong, and your seem to be having a one-bad-thing-after-another phase at the mo! So moan all you want I think you've earned it.
At least next Thursday is a step in the right direction, there is light at the end of the tunnel
Hang in there your doing great
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Thanks, everyone, for your kind thoughts. I know one more week is nothing and this whole thing will be distant memory before long.
OMG, WhiteLurcher! A second surgery?! I can't even imagine. What is your current condition?
Re the fiber, I thought that fiber is a diuretic, i.e. helps you go. But you guys think it will help firm? I've been drinking Ensure with fiber and lots of fruit juices. I don't know about things with pulp. I tried pureeing some stuff in the blender, but it simply didn't get liquid enough to get through my armor. I pureed some lentil soup, took one sip and immediately had to brush my teeth to get off all the skins. Maybe I just need to let it blend for a lot longer...?
OMG, WhiteLurcher! A second surgery?! I can't even imagine. What is your current condition?
Re the fiber, I thought that fiber is a diuretic, i.e. helps you go. But you guys think it will help firm? I've been drinking Ensure with fiber and lots of fruit juices. I don't know about things with pulp. I tried pureeing some stuff in the blender, but it simply didn't get liquid enough to get through my armor. I pureed some lentil soup, took one sip and immediately had to brush my teeth to get off all the skins. Maybe I just need to let it blend for a lot longer...?
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WhiteLurcher
- Posts: 173
- Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2006 12:48 pm
- Location: Near Glasgow, Central Scotland
Hi
My current condition is kind of limbo! The second op put my midline back where it should be i.e. in the middle, it had kind of gone astray somewhat
But my bite is whacked, I can only get about two teeth on my left side to meet, the rest are open. I just have to wait and see what they plan to do next
As to the fibre debate I think you should consult a pharmacist as you really can't afford to lose too much water and nutrition, when you are trying to heal! Its hard enough on a restricted diet without loosing what nutrition you're fighting to build up!
All the best!
My current condition is kind of limbo! The second op put my midline back where it should be i.e. in the middle, it had kind of gone astray somewhat
But my bite is whacked, I can only get about two teeth on my left side to meet, the rest are open. I just have to wait and see what they plan to do next As to the fibre debate I think you should consult a pharmacist as you really can't afford to lose too much water and nutrition, when you are trying to heal! Its hard enough on a restricted diet without loosing what nutrition you're fighting to build up!
All the best!
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Brandyleigh35
- Posts: 1018
- Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:25 pm
- Location: Alaska
- Contact:
Hey Singer,
YOu poor thing! I myself am only 13 days post op, and while I've probably had a text book case for great healing, I have certainly had moments where I thought i might not make it.
Do you have zip and squeeze bags? I would think those would be really mandatory for someone who is wired shut. If you don't have any I would get online and order some. They ship really fast and are really helpful. I could not have survived without my zip and squeezse. Also you need to find some ways to get some protein into you. I would grind up fish and add it to soup, then sqeeze it down my throat. I also made beef stew and ground up the beef, thinned it out with beef broth and drank it. The more protein you get into you the better you will feel, and the faster you will heal. Also, protein powder added to smoothies. Fluids are important, but you need to have protein mixed in there with them. I made egg flower soup with blended egg in it so I could get extra protein. The eating part is hard (trust me I know) you mouth gets tired easily and you can only take in so much before your like done! Good nutrition is key to helping you deal with the emotional aspects of this (and your monthly visitor.) though. Cream of wheat, made with milk and thinned out is very filling and good for you. You can mix yougurt in with it too to fill you up and give you some protein!
I know this has got to be the hardest thing you have ever done, I didn't have to be wired or banded but I know it has been challening enough without them. I can only imagine your exasperation with three weeks of it! How difficult this must be! Know that lots of us are thinking of you and that you will get through this. If you can try and get some exercise (even if you don't really feel like it) it will help boost your spirits and make you feel better.
Sending happy, healing, thoughts your way!
Brandy
YOu poor thing! I myself am only 13 days post op, and while I've probably had a text book case for great healing, I have certainly had moments where I thought i might not make it.
Do you have zip and squeeze bags? I would think those would be really mandatory for someone who is wired shut. If you don't have any I would get online and order some. They ship really fast and are really helpful. I could not have survived without my zip and squeezse. Also you need to find some ways to get some protein into you. I would grind up fish and add it to soup, then sqeeze it down my throat. I also made beef stew and ground up the beef, thinned it out with beef broth and drank it. The more protein you get into you the better you will feel, and the faster you will heal. Also, protein powder added to smoothies. Fluids are important, but you need to have protein mixed in there with them. I made egg flower soup with blended egg in it so I could get extra protein. The eating part is hard (trust me I know) you mouth gets tired easily and you can only take in so much before your like done! Good nutrition is key to helping you deal with the emotional aspects of this (and your monthly visitor.) though. Cream of wheat, made with milk and thinned out is very filling and good for you. You can mix yougurt in with it too to fill you up and give you some protein!
I know this has got to be the hardest thing you have ever done, I didn't have to be wired or banded but I know it has been challening enough without them. I can only imagine your exasperation with three weeks of it! How difficult this must be! Know that lots of us are thinking of you and that you will get through this. If you can try and get some exercise (even if you don't really feel like it) it will help boost your spirits and make you feel better.
Sending happy, healing, thoughts your way!
Brandy
Hi Singer19,
I am sorry to hear you're having a tough time. I was wired for 10 days and that was plenty long enough - I think 3 weeks would be awfully difficult. I don't know what suggest about the fibre issue... I had problems as well. I had a liquids-in, liquids-out problem for the first few days, but them I got constipated after that. Go figure.
In my experience it is next to impossible to get fibre into yourself when wired. I tried blending beans, creamed corn, lentils, bran cereal, even apple sauce would not get through my teeth. The very nature of of fibre is that it is, well, fibrous, and therefore very difficult to ingest through wired teeth.
Here are a few suggestions, for fibre as well as protein, for what it's worth:
-peanut butter milkshake (peanut butter, milk, ice cream)
-soft tofu blended with fruit juice
-refried beans blended with tomato soup
-small red lentils well-cooked and blended with lots and lots of broth
-soft tofu blended with juice or soymilk
-couscous blended with lots of milk (or soymilk) and some canned apricots (or other fruit). This was my favourite meal. It makes you feel full.
-instant meal replacement shakes (I used one called Veganique)
If you don't already have zip n squeeze bags, you might think about ordering some. You can call and have them sent by priority mail (if you want to pay for that).
Otherwise, my biggest advice would be as follows: Just eat something - anything you can get into you is better than nothing. I had all these grand preparations for healthy, balanced meals, and when I actually got there, I discovered that half of them were impossible to eat and the other half tasted terrible. I ended up eating a lot of chocolate pudding diluted with soymilk, because it was easy to prepare and eat, and chocolate is good when you are tired and cranky. Second, be patient, because this will be over soon, and your body will get back to normal very quickly as soon as you are unwired - trust me. And you will really savour that first solid meal. Plan something special for that day.
I am sorry to hear you're having a tough time. I was wired for 10 days and that was plenty long enough - I think 3 weeks would be awfully difficult. I don't know what suggest about the fibre issue... I had problems as well. I had a liquids-in, liquids-out problem for the first few days, but them I got constipated after that. Go figure.
In my experience it is next to impossible to get fibre into yourself when wired. I tried blending beans, creamed corn, lentils, bran cereal, even apple sauce would not get through my teeth. The very nature of of fibre is that it is, well, fibrous, and therefore very difficult to ingest through wired teeth.
Here are a few suggestions, for fibre as well as protein, for what it's worth:
-peanut butter milkshake (peanut butter, milk, ice cream)
-soft tofu blended with fruit juice
-refried beans blended with tomato soup
-small red lentils well-cooked and blended with lots and lots of broth
-soft tofu blended with juice or soymilk
-couscous blended with lots of milk (or soymilk) and some canned apricots (or other fruit). This was my favourite meal. It makes you feel full.
-instant meal replacement shakes (I used one called Veganique)
If you don't already have zip n squeeze bags, you might think about ordering some. You can call and have them sent by priority mail (if you want to pay for that).
Otherwise, my biggest advice would be as follows: Just eat something - anything you can get into you is better than nothing. I had all these grand preparations for healthy, balanced meals, and when I actually got there, I discovered that half of them were impossible to eat and the other half tasted terrible. I ended up eating a lot of chocolate pudding diluted with soymilk, because it was easy to prepare and eat, and chocolate is good when you are tired and cranky. Second, be patient, because this will be over soon, and your body will get back to normal very quickly as soon as you are unwired - trust me. And you will really savour that first solid meal. Plan something special for that day.