ok, so am I killing my husband?

August 14, 2005

Randy is almost two weeks post op. He started protein shakes this week. Just because I can not think of drinking "Blue Milk" (AKA non-fat, it is blue when it's in the glass) I bought low fat, worse yet, it's 2% because the store was out of 1%. He is still on stage 1 diet, but UCLA allows Protein drinks. He has been having one or two a day. Since nobody offered any recipes, I made my own. 1/4 cup milk, half a packet of vitalady sample packet of powder, 1/3 of a banana, and about a cup of crushed ice, remember there is a lot of air in ice with a cup. I use the magic bullet, and he takes about a half hour to 45 minutes to finish it. He has been loving it, we also have propel, fruit2o, plain water, and Isopure. Nothing has upset his tummy at all, I've also given him broth... veggie, chicken, and beef. I've mixed the veggie with meat broth, or not ( sort of "veggie beef" or "veggie chicken" soup , added a bit of citrus seasoning (orange zest, non-salt stuff from Sam's club).We bought

the pudding cups at the vitamin shop, they were so-so, he has been getting about 60 -80 grams of protein and a grip of water. close to the required 64 ounces if soup, shakes, and Popsicles count as liquid. He has been feeling great, we have liquid vites from Walmart...loaded with good stuff, it is called "Drinkables" for seniors, Randy says it isn't bad, but kind of like cough medicine tasting. B12 sub-lingual,( I thought it was weekly but I read here it is daily, and you can't get too much.... so every day now). And tomorrow I will get Iron! Jeez! I forgot Iron! The huge complication is the rash! His drain tube didn't do the right thing in the hospital, it drained everywhere but in the tube....the floor, the bed, through thick bandages...everywhere. He came home and looked like a truck had run him over! Well, more like a port wine birthmark across his tummy and back! I measured it.... two and a half feet wide and six inches tall! So then the place where the tube had been was

hot to touch, so I took him to urgent care and they gave him Keflex for the infection, since he has zillions of allergies we are very careful! He has never been allergic to Keflex before! Surprise! He is now! Crap! He is all broken out in a rash....and that is a lot of rash! Head to toe! Back to urgent care, benadryl and steroid shot, and liquid benadryl at home, very funny! It is only liquid if it is children's, so the dose is two syringes at a time. UCLA wants to see him tomorrow, so we have to call for an appointment. The rash is freaking me out! I'll write more later after we see the surgeon! But mainly, am I doing things all wrong? Or is he just able to tolerate more than most people? He is full after a small bit, still sipping, not too many calories....but it sounds like it is so different from most of you..... he starts "stage 2" later this week, cream soups, cream veggies, mashed potatoes, and like that. Also, we go to dinner every night at the corner diner, I hate to

cook, I've only been cooking for Randy cuz I love him so, otherwise that room of my house would mot see my butt in it. He eats the chicken noodle soup, with out the noodles or the chicken, we still haven't told anyone but our kids about the surgery, so the girls at the diner are thinking they are nursing him back to health! (well, they are in a way!) We always go there for meals, Joee our 17 year old works at Hurricane Harbor, I'm in school, and will soon be back to work, Randy's hours are crazy, so we go there to enjoy a bit of family time, no distractions! Anyway, like I said, I'll let you all know what the doc says tomorrow!

Take care! And thanks for caring!

Sue in Palmdale

BTW...Congrats ! I hope to be anywhere as successful as you, Robynn, Pam and the rest in two years! If I get that darned cardiac clearance!

August 15, 2005

Sue, you will get there. I know that Randy sure

appreciates everything that you are doing for him. It

always comes back to you what you put out there.

Randy, if you are readying, CONGRATS!!!

Pam Marsh

--- Randy Mendez mendez6@...> wrote:

>

> Randy is almost two weeks post op. He started

> protein shakes this week. Just because I can not

> think of drinking " Blue Milk " (AKA non-fat, it is

> blue when it's in the glass) I bought low fat, worse

> yet, it's 2% because the store was out of 1%. He is

> still on stage 1 diet, but UCLA allows Protein

> drinks. He has been having one or two a day. Since

> nobody offered any recipes, I made my own. 1/4 cup

> milk, half a packet of vitalady sample packet of

> powder, 1/3 of a banana, and about a cup of crushed

> ice, remember there is a lot of air in ice with a

> cup. I use the magic bullet, and he takes about a

> half hour to 45 minutes to finish it. He has been

> loving it, we also have propel, fruit2o, plain

> water, and Isopure. Nothing has upset his tummy at

> all, I've also given him broth... veggie, chicken,

> and beef. I've mixed the veggie with meat broth, or

> not ( sort of " veggie beef " or " veggie chicken " soup

> , added a bit of citrus seasoning (orange zest,

> non-salt stuff from Sam's club).We bought the

> pudding cups at the vitamin shop, they were so-so,

> he has been getting about 60 -80 grams of protein

> and a grip of water. close to the required 64 ounces

> if soup, shakes, and Popsicles count as liquid. He

> has been feeling great, we have liquid vites from

> Walmart...loaded with good stuff, it is called

> " Drinkables " for seniors, Randy says it isn't bad,

> but kind of like cough medicine tasting. B12

> sub-lingual,( I thought it was weekly but I read

> here it is daily, and you can't get too much.... so

> every day now). And tomorrow I will get Iron! Jeez!

> I forgot Iron! The huge complication is the rash!

> His drain tube didn't do the right thing in the

> hospital, it drained everywhere but in the

> tube....the floor, the bed, through thick

> bandages...everywhere. He came home and looked like

> a truck had run him over! Well, more like a port

> wine birthmark across his tummy and back! I measured

> it.... two and a half feet wide and six inches tall!

> So then the place where the tube had been was hot to

> touch, so I took him to urgent care and they gave

> him Keflex for the infection, since he has zillions

> of allergies we are very careful! He has never been

> allergic to Keflex before! Surprise! He is now!

> Crap! He is all broken out in a rash....and that is

> a lot of rash! Head to toe! Back to urgent care,

> benadryl and steroid shot, and liquid benadryl at

> home, very funny! It is only liquid if it is

> children's, so the dose is two syringes at a time.

> UCLA wants to see him tomorrow, so we have to call

> for an appointment. The rash is freaking me out!

> I'll write more later after we see the surgeon! But

> mainly, am I doing things all wrong? Or is he just

> able to tolerate more than most people? He is full

> after a small bit, still sipping, not too many

> calories....but it sounds like it is so different

> from most of you..... he starts " stage 2 " later this

> week, cream soups, cream veggies, mashed potatoes,

> and like that. Also, we go to dinner every night at

> the corner diner, I hate to cook, I've

> only been cooking for Randy cuz I love him so,

> otherwise that room of my house would mot see my

> butt in it. He eats the chicken noodle soup, with

> out the noodles or the chicken, we still haven't

> told anyone but our kids about the surgery, so the

> girls at the diner are thinking they are nursing him

> back to health! (well, they are in a way!) We always

> go there for meals, Joee our 17 year old works at

> Hurricane Harbor, I'm in school, and will soon be

> back to work, Randy's hours are crazy, so we go

> there to enjoy a bit of family time, no

> distractions! Anyway, like I said, I'll let you all

> know what the doc says tomorrow!

>

> Take care! And thanks for caring!

>

> Sue in Palmdale

>

> BTW...Congrats ! I hope to be anywhere as

> successful as you, Robynn, Pam and the rest in two

> years! If I get that darned cardiac clearance!

>

__________________________________________________

August 15, 2005

Thanks Sue

Ok here is my two cents worth.

Protein shakes: try them without added stuff. Water, not milk. No

fruit. If he doesnt like the taste try adding sugar free syrups

instead.

Be careful of too much liquid with the soups. The liquid(broth) will

just wash the solid protein out of his pouch too soon. Wait a second

he is on Stage 1 or 2?? If stage 1 then its ok, make sure its more

chicken than veggies though at this point....he needs the protein,

not so much the veggies. At this point the veggies should be

flavoring only. When he moves to stage 2 reduce the amount of broth

to only enough to moisten the chicken a bit.

You are doing great. I could tolerate just about everything too.

Huggles

>

> Randy is almost two weeks post op. He started protein shakes this

week. Just because I can not think of drinking " Blue Milk " (AKA non-

fat, it is blue when it's in the glass) I bought low fat, worse yet,

it's 2% because the store was out of 1%. He is still on stage 1

diet, but UCLA allows Protein drinks. He has been having one or two

a day. Since nobody offered any recipes, I made my own. 1/4 cup

milk, half a packet of vitalady sample packet of powder, 1/3 of a

banana, and about a cup of crushed ice, remember there is a lot of

air in ice with a cup. I use the magic bullet, and he takes about a

half hour to 45 minutes to finish it. He has been loving it, we also

have propel, fruit2o, plain water, and Isopure. Nothing has upset

his tummy at all, I've also given him broth... veggie, chicken, and

beef. I've mixed the veggie with meat broth, or not ( sort

of " veggie beef " or " veggie chicken " soup , added a bit of citrus

seasoning (orange zest, non-salt stuff from Sam's club).We bought the

> pudding cups at the vitamin shop, they were so-so, he has been

getting about 60 -80 grams of protein and a grip of water. close to

the required 64 ounces if soup, shakes, and Popsicles count as

liquid. He has been feeling great, we have liquid vites from

Walmart...loaded with good stuff, it is called " Drinkables " for

seniors, Randy says it isn't bad, but kind of like cough medicine

tasting. B12 sub-lingual,( I thought it was weekly but I read here

it is daily, and you can't get too much.... so every day now). And

tomorrow I will get Iron! Jeez! I forgot Iron! The huge complication

is the rash! His drain tube didn't do the right thing in the

hospital, it drained everywhere but in the tube....the floor, the

bed, through thick bandages...everywhere. He came home and looked

like a truck had run him over! Well, more like a port wine birthmark

across his tummy and back! I measured it.... two and a half feet

wide and six inches tall! So then the place where the tube had been

was hot to

> touch, so I took him to urgent care and they gave him Keflex for

the infection, since he has zillions of allergies we are very

careful! He has never been allergic to Keflex before! Surprise! He

is now! Crap! He is all broken out in a rash....and that is a lot of

rash! Head to toe! Back to urgent care, benadryl and steroid shot,

and liquid benadryl at home, very funny! It is only liquid if it is

children's, so the dose is two syringes at a time. UCLA wants to see

him tomorrow, so we have to call for an appointment. The rash is

freaking me out! I'll write more later after we see the surgeon! But

mainly, am I doing things all wrong? Or is he just able to tolerate

more than most people? He is full after a small bit, still sipping,

not too many calories....but it sounds like it is so different from

most of you..... he starts " stage 2 " later this week, cream soups,

cream veggies, mashed potatoes, and like that. Also, we go to dinner

every night at the corner diner, I hate to cook, I've

> only been cooking for Randy cuz I love him so, otherwise that

room of my house would mot see my butt in it. He eats the chicken

noodle soup, with out the noodles or the chicken, we still haven't

told anyone but our kids about the surgery, so the girls at the

diner are thinking they are nursing him back to health! (well, they

are in a way!) We always go there for meals, Joee our 17 year old

works at Hurricane Harbor, I'm in school, and will soon be back to

work, Randy's hours are crazy, so we go there to enjoy a bit of

family time, no distractions! Anyway, like I said, I'll let you all

know what the doc says tomorrow!

>

> Take care! And thanks for caring!

>

> Sue in Palmdale

>

> BTW...Congrats ! I hope to be anywhere as successful as you,

Robynn, Pam and the rest in two years! If I get that darned cardiac

clearance!

August 15, 2005

Sue...

You should really read the binder to make sure you aren't adding more than you should. He is in stage II, I imagine. In which case, he needs soft foods like cream of wheat with applesauce. That sticks to your gut a bit more than other things. I found that when I had soup, it went down well, but I was hungrier later. I started adding a teensy bit of cream of wheat to the soup, and it made it thicker, more substantial. It stuck to my ribs.

You may want to buy some carb smart (or hoods) yoghurt. That has protein in it, too, and less than 5 gms of sugar. If the program you are on says protein shakes are ok, I would still try to stick to Isopure or Isoflex or some of the others where you only need to add water. As says, sugar free flavorings can be added if necessary. My typical day in the beginning was: 1 oz cooked Cream of Wheat, 1 oz applesauce with a little Splenda in the a.m., 2 oz yoghurt for lunch, 1 oz cream soup and 1 oz sugar free pudding for dinner. Or I'd have 1 oz cream soup and 1 oz cream of wheat for dinner.

You need to be careful about not introducing too many calories at this point. i know it seems like he's barely got anything going in, and it's tempting to want to give him more. But the reality is that you want him to take full advantage of this period when he's in recovery. He won't be very hungry at all (even less so when he moves on to Stage 3) and if you don't take advantage of it, he won't lose as much weight. Don't be a saboteur, you know? (I know that is NOT your intent at all!!) Look at how many calories the shake is without the added stuff. Than add 120 calories for the milk (if it's a full glass) and 45 calories for one half of a banana. While the total may seem like not very much, it's QUITE a lot more than most of us were consuming in the beginning. Don't forget that as time goes on, our pouches grow, our need for more calories creeps up on us. And if we are used to getting a lot of calories in the

beginning, that may really make us crave more and more.

Are you taking him out for walks a few times a day? If he's up for it, you should really make sure that you do that. It will help him avoid depression, particularly if he's outside. He needs a little Vitamin A and D from the sun.

I know you want to help him...he went through this whole surgery which is a very big big deal...so just be careful that you aren't supplementing him with too many calories. My surgeons and all the rest of the staff said that it is not realistic to think you can really achieve that much protein intake in the beginning...you shouldn't expect to be able to do that..it will come with time. If your program is cool on the shakes, that's fine...but read the labels carefully. Some of them are a lot of calories, relatively.

Your hubby won't die if he's consuming very few calories...he has a lot of fat stores, and you really want to use those for fuel. He may feel a little weird at first, a little tired, but that will pass.

As for the iron, generally speaking, it's menstruating women who need to take the iron supplements. Generally, there is some iron in the supplements (multi vitamins) that you are taking. Call your program and ask whether iron is even necessary for your husband to take supplemental iron.

Good luck!!

Robynn Diane Duenas wrote:

Thanks SueOk here is my two cents worth.Protein shakes: try them without added stuff. Water, not milk. No fruit. If he doesnt like the taste try adding sugar free syrups instead.Be careful of too much liquid with the soups. The liquid(broth) will just wash the solid protein out of his pouch too soon. Wait a second he is on Stage 1 or 2?? If stage 1 then its ok, make sure its more chicken than veggies though at this point....he needs the protein, not so much the veggies. At this point the veggies should be flavoring only. When he moves to stage 2 reduce the amount of broth to only enough to moisten the chicken a bit.You are doing great. I could tolerate just about everything too.Huggles> > > > Randy is almost two weeks post op. He started protein shakes this week. Just because I can not think of drinking "Blue Milk" (AKA non-fat, it is blue when it's in the glass) I bought low fat, worse yet, it's 2% because the store was out of 1%. He is still on stage 1 diet, but UCLA allows Protein drinks. He has been having one or two a day. Since nobody offered any recipes, I made my own. 1/4 cup milk, half a packet of vitalady sample packet of powder, 1/3 of a banana, and about a cup of crushed ice, remember there is a lot of air in ice with a cup. I use the magic bullet, and he takes about a half hour to 45 minutes to finish it. He has been loving it, we also have propel, fruit2o, plain water, and Isopure. Nothing has upset his tummy at all, I've also given him broth... veggie, chicken, and beef. I've mixed the veggie with meat broth, or not ( sort of "veggie beef" or "veggie chicken" soup

, added a bit of citrus seasoning (orange zest, non-salt stuff from Sam's club).We bought the> pudding cups at the vitamin shop, they were so-so, he has been getting about 60 -80 grams of protein and a grip of water. close to the required 64 ounces if soup, shakes, and Popsicles count as liquid. He has been feeling great, we have liquid vites from Walmart...loaded with good stuff, it is called "Drinkables" for seniors, Randy says it isn't bad, but kind of like cough medicine tasting. B12 sub-lingual,( I thought it was weekly but I read here it is daily, and you can't get too much.... so every day now). And tomorrow I will get Iron! Jeez! I forgot Iron! The huge complication is the rash! His drain tube didn't do the right thing in the hospital, it drained everywhere but in the tube....the floor, the bed, through thick bandages...everywhere. He came home and looked like a truck had run him over! Well, more like a

port wine birthmark across his tummy and back! I measured it.... two and a half feet wide and six inches tall! So then the place where the tube had been was hot to> touch, so I took him to urgent care and they gave him Keflex for the infection, since he has zillions of allergies we are very careful! He has never been allergic to Keflex before! Surprise! He is now! Crap! He is all broken out in a rash....and that is a lot of rash! Head to toe! Back to urgent care, benadryl and steroid shot, and liquid benadryl at home, very funny! It is only liquid if it is children's, so the dose is two syringes at a time. UCLA wants to see him tomorrow, so we have to call for an appointment. The rash is freaking me out! I'll write more later after we see the surgeon! But mainly, am I doing things all wrong? Or is he just able to tolerate more than most people? He is full after a small bit, still sipping, not too many

calories....but it sounds like it is so different from most of you..... he starts "stage 2" later this week, cream soups, cream veggies, mashed potatoes, and like that. Also, we go to dinner every night at the corner diner, I hate to cook, I've> only been cooking for Randy cuz I love him so, otherwise that room of my house would mot see my butt in it. He eats the chicken noodle soup, with out the noodles or the chicken, we still haven't told anyone but our kids about the surgery, so the girls at the diner are thinking they are nursing him back to health! (well, they are in a way!) We always go there for meals, Joee our 17 year old works at Hurricane Harbor, I'm in school, and will soon be back to work, Randy's hours are crazy, so we go there to enjoy a bit of family time, no distractions! Anyway, like I said, I'll let you all know what the doc says tomorrow!> > Take care! And thanks for caring!>

> Sue in Palmdale> > > > BTW...Congrats ! I hope to be anywhere as successful as you, Robynn, Pam and the rest in two years! If I get that darned cardiac clearance!

August 15, 2005

Robynn (et al), I have noticed a lot of people, when talking about sweeteners, mention Splenda. Is there something better about that than Equal or Sweet-N-Low? We've been using Equal here in the house for quite a while now. Is there a difference?