Archive for the ‘Digestive issues’ Category

At last… I got to break a sweat!

Posted: April 11, 2013 in Bariatric surgery, Digestive issues, Exercise, Foot issues, Physical activity, Weight loss
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I did! I did!

See, I had my follow up with the surgeon yesterday and I was cleared to move on to more real foods and also to go back to working out. So, even with the Boot of Shame, I still managed to get some decent cardio in and also lift weights for the first time in three weeks.

It. Was. Awesome.

I had an appointment with the boys this afternoon, so when they heard about the Boot, they sat me down on the X Ride and had me do 30:30’s. That’s 30 seconds flat out, 30 seconds slow, repeat 5 times, rest for three minutes and do it again. I couldn’t do my usual level (12) but did manage to do Level 10. It’s a start. After that, weights. Not lifting for weeks will certainly make you hurt a bit… and I’m paying for it. I know I’ve said it before, but once you get started with exercise and develop the habit, well, it kind of sucks when you can’t do it. I guess I will go to the Rec tomorrow and see what I can do other than the bike. I hate the bike. If it wasn’t because of the toe, I would take the chance to hop in the pool. I know that kind of all over workout with low impact will do wonders for me.

The weight… came in at 332 this afternoon. I’m anxious to see what regular workouts do for it.

Speaking of changes, I tried an egg again today. This time it stayed down. Maybe the egg white was just too much protein or something, but a regular egg, scrambled went quite well for breakfast.

The foot issue has me taking oral antibiotics. That’s all fine, except that they come in capsule form and capsules don’t work to well with Joe (the pouch). So, I have to open the capsule, sprinkle the contents in some applesauce and choke it down that way. It’s really gross and now I understand why they don’t market chewable Keflex. Just 500 mg of this stuff can turn a sweet applesauce into the taste equivalent of wallpaper glue. I don’t recommend that.

At any rate, I’m going to call it a night. Tomorrow I think I might take on the boredom that accompanies recuperation.

Talk to you soon!

Song of the Day: Cult of Personality – Living Colour

Back to it… kind of

Posted: April 8, 2013 in Bariatric surgery, Cooking, Digestive issues, Doctors and Dentists and Nurses... oh my!, Exercise, Physical activity, recipes, Supportive Partner Woman, Walking, Wayne, Weight loss
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Greetings!

I got to go back to the fitness center today. I had to take it easy, on instructions from Ryan and Cory, but that might change after I see the doctor on Wednesday. Here’s hoping I can sweat next time I’m there.

I have another doctor appointment tomorrow morning. The second toe on my left foot (the one next to Wayne) developed a corn/blister that seems to be hanging around. I’ll probably wind up back in the Boot of Shame. So, I’ll let Dr. Miller take a look at it and see what’s what. Maybe I’m being alarmist, but I’d rather not take the chance on there being a problem. After losing the better part of one toe, you tend to be a tad overprotective.

I also am able to start puree foods today. I attempted to overreach and tried some scrambled egg white this morning. That didn’t go so well. The end result was that the egg white’s residence in my digestive tract was short-lived. Hey, I knew it had to happen and I’m glad that it did, in a way. My pureed turkey chili stayed down, though, and actually tasted pretty good. It’s not the consistency that I like from chili, but it was full of flavor and, most importantly, protein. Supportive Partner Woman (not a real lover of chili!) had a bowl of it and pronounced it to be edible, so that’s always good. I also baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies yesterday so she could take them to work and share the awesomeness with her boss. Apparently they went over well.

I think I’ll share the recipe… it’s bariatric-friendly!

Turkey Chili

Ingredients:

1 medium yellow onion, chopped (I only had red ones… they work, too)
6 cloves of garlic, diced
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup yellow corn
1 lb. ground turkey
1 can of red or kidney beans (15.5 oz) (I use kidney)
1 can of diced tomatoes (I found some with chipotle peppers in the can… perfect)
1/2 tbsp cumin
1/2 tbsp chili powder
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
4 squirts of Tabasco
olive oil
salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

In a medium soup pot add some olive oil and cook onions, garlic, corn and bell pepper over medium heat, about ten minutes. Separately brown the turkey meat, drain and set aside. In a food processor, blend the vegetables and return to the soup pot. Over low heat, add the beans (drained), tomatoes, turkey meat, Tabasco, cilantro, cumin and chili powder. Cover and simmer for about 10 minutes. Salt & pepper to taste. Should serve 4-5.

It’s a nice, healthy dish that will serve up a lot of protein. 3 oz of ground turkey has 23g of protein and a cup of kidney beans comes in a 16g of protein.

If you make it, feel free to customize it. If you’re a bariatric patient, feel free to throw it in the food processor and puree it. Just remember to eat slowly and stop when you’re full.

Have a great day folks!

An uncomfortable topic

Posted: March 30, 2013 in Bariatric surgery, Digestive issues, liquid diet
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Yeah. This isn’t what I planned on, but it’s a major component of what I’m going through, so it’s going to get talked about. Let’s give it a high-level summation of “digestive issues”. If you’re not comfortable reading about those, click here and come back when the next post is up.

Are you sure you want to read this?

COMPLETELY sure?

There’s no going back now….

 

 

 

 

OK.

Digestive issues.

It’s what you might expect. vomiting and bowel movements. Both are apparently a little different for the post surgical bariatric patient. We’ll talk bowel movements first, since that’s what’s pressing, so to speak.

I was warned I wouldn’t have one for a few days after surgery. I’m still waiting. This, as you can imagine, is a bit uncomfortable. I’ve been drinking up water like a dry Sham-wow and nothing. I can’t try to force the issue to due the internal suturing and I’m always hesitant to take laxatives. I can sit on the toilet and all I get is gas. It’s such a letdown. I figure if nothing happens by Monday I’ll be calling the doc and seeing what he has to say. My personal opinion is that it has to do with the painkillers. Heavy duty painkillers always stop me up like one party blocking another party’s legislation from making it through Congress.

The other digestive issue that I’ve not experienced yet is vomiting. Apparently, vomiting no longer is the same as it was pre surgery. Since my pouch is separate from the part of the stomach that produces the stomach acids, gone is the unpleasant burning sensation and damage to the esophagus and teeth that can occur. This is not to say that I want to vomit… it’s never a fun feeling. I’m sure I will experience it as I expand my palate moving forward. There have also been times when I thought for sure it was going to happen, but nothing thus far.

Anyway, since all unpleasantness is out of the way, today should be a fun day. I’m expecting some visitors, including my mom and my sister. Mom made the right call in not opting to be there for my surgery. I’m sure her incessant pacing would’ve driven the waiting room nuts. Speaking of waiting rooms, Supportive Partner Woman (Possessor of great ideas!) had a way for the hospital to make some green.

Have the waiting rooms be sponsored by Xanax.

Just enough to take the edge off for those who have to wait. Either that or install a liquor vending machine.

She’s got a million of them.

Anyway, I’m going to leave with the following: MOASTBFFG crossed the 10,000 page view threshold this morning. That is totally amazing and that means that you, the readers, are totally amazing.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Song of the Day: The Touch – Stan Bush

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