Re: sad and frustrated teenager

[Guest guest]

Hi Laurie

My 19 year old son is 6 weeks post op. He was on a no chew diet for 2weeks,

and lost about 8 lbs. He also could not afford to loose the weight.

Basically his diet for those two weeks consisted of infant cereal with

applesauce

for breakfast, blended soups, with carnation instant breakfast with icecream

and protein powder , and ensure plus in between meals. So basically he had to

eat every couple of hours. I can totally understand how frustrating it is for

him, and for you. I'm assuming that he must be banded for a longer period of

time. I tried a lot of different recipes, but once blended everything tasted

the same to him.. Things do get better, I promise. I think my son had enough

of me shoving food in his very every few hours. But we survived. I had gotten

a cookbook from the zipnsqeeze website that was helpful and I think there are

links to recipes on this website.

Good luck

Areti

[Guest guest]

Hi Laurie

My 19 year old son is 6 weeks post op. He was on a no chew diet for 2weeks,

and lost about 8 lbs. He also could not afford to loose the weight.

Basically his diet for those two weeks consisted of infant cereal with

applesauce

for breakfast, blended soups, with carnation instant breakfast with icecream

and protein powder , and ensure plus in between meals. So basically he had to

eat every couple of hours. I can totally understand how frustrating it is for

him, and for you. I'm assuming that he must be banded for a longer period of

time. I tried a lot of different recipes, but once blended everything tasted

the same to him.. Things do get better, I promise. I think my son had enough

of me shoving food in his very every few hours. But we survived. I had gotten

a cookbook from the zipnsqeeze website that was helpful and I think there are

links to recipes on this website.

Good luck

Areti

[Guest guest]

actually...i'm in the same situation right now. i'm right around

your son's age...21. and i can definitely relate. i'm absolutely

sick of liquids also...to the point where i have to force myself to

eat because i'm also very thin. i was already thin before the

surgery and i've lost almost 10 pounds in the past week and a half.

my face is very oily...but it hasn't broken out yet...i try to

counter the acne by using an anti-bacterial acne wash at least twice

a day. there is a weight gain protein shake that i'm using that has

1370 calories per serving. it's called Serious Mass and is made my

Optimum Nutrition. and it really doesn't taste too bad...especially

if you add stuff to it. it comes in chocolate, vanilla, and

strawberry. i have containers of vanilla and chocolate at my

house...and chocolate is probably the best of the two. hope this

helps.

Tom

> HI everyone,

> My 19 yr old son is 2 1/2 weeks post op and is frustrated and

> depressed. He looks great, but he is so tired of drinking his meals

> that he is practically refusing to eat. He has lost 12 lbs and can

> not afford to lose any more. He is very thin. His face is suddenly

> breaking out, too. Any teenagers out there or anyone else for that

> matter that has any advise on new foods to try or have had similar

> experiences, I would sure appreciate hearing from you.

> Thanks!

> Laurie

[Guest guest]

actually...i'm in the same situation right now. i'm right around

your son's age...21. and i can definitely relate. i'm absolutely

sick of liquids also...to the point where i have to force myself to

eat because i'm also very thin. i was already thin before the

surgery and i've lost almost 10 pounds in the past week and a half.

my face is very oily...but it hasn't broken out yet...i try to

counter the acne by using an anti-bacterial acne wash at least twice

a day. there is a weight gain protein shake that i'm using that has

1370 calories per serving. it's called Serious Mass and is made my

Optimum Nutrition. and it really doesn't taste too bad...especially

if you add stuff to it. it comes in chocolate, vanilla, and

strawberry. i have containers of vanilla and chocolate at my

house...and chocolate is probably the best of the two. hope this

helps.

Tom

> HI everyone,

> My 19 yr old son is 2 1/2 weeks post op and is frustrated and

> depressed. He looks great, but he is so tired of drinking his meals

> that he is practically refusing to eat. He has lost 12 lbs and can

> not afford to lose any more. He is very thin. His face is suddenly

> breaking out, too. Any teenagers out there or anyone else for that

> matter that has any advise on new foods to try or have had similar

> experiences, I would sure appreciate hearing from you.

> Thanks!

> Laurie

[Guest guest]

I am 17 turning 18 in September and I had my surgery in June. To

get over being sad and frustrated I would go out with my friends or

have friends come over to cheer me up. About the liquid diet, there

isnt really anything you can do but just wait but my friends put

Chef Boyardi in a blender and it actually helped out a lot. That

was my comfort food along with the Pizza soup put in the blender.

It does get better and as soon as you know it you are eating soft

foods and on your way to being " normal " again.

> > HI everyone,

> > My 19 yr old son is 2 1/2 weeks post op and is frustrated and

> > depressed. He looks great, but he is so tired of drinking his

meals

> > that he is practically refusing to eat. He has lost 12 lbs and

can

> > not afford to lose any more. He is very thin. His face is

suddenly

> > breaking out, too. Any teenagers out there or anyone else for

that

> > matter that has any advise on new foods to try or have had

similar

> > experiences, I would sure appreciate hearing from you.

> > Thanks!

> > Laurie

[Guest guest]

I am 17 turning 18 in September and I had my surgery in June. To

get over being sad and frustrated I would go out with my friends or

have friends come over to cheer me up. About the liquid diet, there

isnt really anything you can do but just wait but my friends put

Chef Boyardi in a blender and it actually helped out a lot. That

was my comfort food along with the Pizza soup put in the blender.

It does get better and as soon as you know it you are eating soft

foods and on your way to being " normal " again.

> > HI everyone,

> > My 19 yr old son is 2 1/2 weeks post op and is frustrated and

> > depressed. He looks great, but he is so tired of drinking his

meals

> > that he is practically refusing to eat. He has lost 12 lbs and

can

> > not afford to lose any more. He is very thin. His face is

suddenly

> > breaking out, too. Any teenagers out there or anyone else for

that

> > matter that has any advise on new foods to try or have had

similar

> > experiences, I would sure appreciate hearing from you.

> > Thanks!

> > Laurie

[Guest guest]

My face also broke out a lot. Get a face cleanser and astringent with

salicylic acid in it. Clean and Clear makes one and so does Neutogena.

That will really help. He may be feeling depressed because of the pain

killers as well if he is still on them. The diet is super frustrating.

I am really thin too (@100lbs) and I was really scared about losing

weight. Thin Cream of Wheat made with milk and brown sugar is good, It

also helps you feel a little full. Protein and weight gain shakes are

good- try it with differnt ice creams- I got reallly sick of vanilla

and chocolate, but I found that most ice cream when blended was fine.

I'm not sure if you live around a Jamba Juice- but they make good

protein shakes- and just having something different can help. Getting

out of the house can really help too. Even if it is only for a bit

(energy levels are really low from not eating). Trips to the grocery

store use to help me. That way I could look for something different to

eat. Trips to the book store were the best. I wish him luck. He will

get through it and be packing pounds back on in no time.

> HI everyone,

> My 19 yr old son is 2 1/2 weeks post op and is frustrated and

> depressed. He looks great, but he is so tired of drinking his meals

> that he is practically refusing to eat. He has lost 12 lbs and can

> not afford to lose any more. He is very thin. His face is suddenly

> breaking out, too. Any teenagers out there or anyone else for that

> matter that has any advise on new foods to try or have had similar

> experiences, I would sure appreciate hearing from you.

> Thanks!

> Laurie

[Guest guest]

My face also broke out a lot. Get a face cleanser and astringent with

salicylic acid in it. Clean and Clear makes one and so does Neutogena.

That will really help. He may be feeling depressed because of the pain

killers as well if he is still on them. The diet is super frustrating.

I am really thin too (@100lbs) and I was really scared about losing

weight. Thin Cream of Wheat made with milk and brown sugar is good, It

also helps you feel a little full. Protein and weight gain shakes are

good- try it with differnt ice creams- I got reallly sick of vanilla

and chocolate, but I found that most ice cream when blended was fine.

I'm not sure if you live around a Jamba Juice- but they make good

protein shakes- and just having something different can help. Getting

out of the house can really help too. Even if it is only for a bit

(energy levels are really low from not eating). Trips to the grocery

store use to help me. That way I could look for something different to

eat. Trips to the book store were the best. I wish him luck. He will

get through it and be packing pounds back on in no time.

> HI everyone,

> My 19 yr old son is 2 1/2 weeks post op and is frustrated and

> depressed. He looks great, but he is so tired of drinking his meals

> that he is practically refusing to eat. He has lost 12 lbs and can

> not afford to lose any more. He is very thin. His face is suddenly

> breaking out, too. Any teenagers out there or anyone else for that

> matter that has any advise on new foods to try or have had similar

> experiences, I would sure appreciate hearing from you.

> Thanks!

> Laurie

[Guest guest]

One meal that I very much enjoyed was Wolgang Pucks Chicken tortilla

soup, blended and strained, if needed thinned with a bit of chicken

broth. Heat in micro, add butter and sour cream. Mmmm mmm. I also

had very oily skin and broke out like crazy around my mouth and nose

and around the edges of my face, by my ears. I am already on

Clyndamycin and Retin-A so that helped a bit but for over the

counter stuff, I have heard that nutragena works good. If he is

oily, dip a cotton ball into Milk of Magnesia and spread it evenly

on the face. You can leave it on all day. Hope he cheers up.

> HI everyone,

> My 19 yr old son is 2 1/2 weeks post op and is frustrated and

> depressed. He looks great, but he is so tired of drinking his

meals

> that he is practically refusing to eat. He has lost 12 lbs and can

> not afford to lose any more. He is very thin. His face is suddenly

> breaking out, too. Any teenagers out there or anyone else for that

> matter that has any advise on new foods to try or have had similar

> experiences, I would sure appreciate hearing from you.

> Thanks!

> Laurie

[Guest guest]

One meal that I very much enjoyed was Wolgang Pucks Chicken tortilla

soup, blended and strained, if needed thinned with a bit of chicken

broth. Heat in micro, add butter and sour cream. Mmmm mmm. I also

had very oily skin and broke out like crazy around my mouth and nose

and around the edges of my face, by my ears. I am already on

Clyndamycin and Retin-A so that helped a bit but for over the

counter stuff, I have heard that nutragena works good. If he is

oily, dip a cotton ball into Milk of Magnesia and spread it evenly

on the face. You can leave it on all day. Hope he cheers up.

> HI everyone,

> My 19 yr old son is 2 1/2 weeks post op and is frustrated and

> depressed. He looks great, but he is so tired of drinking his

meals

> that he is practically refusing to eat. He has lost 12 lbs and can

> not afford to lose any more. He is very thin. His face is suddenly

> breaking out, too. Any teenagers out there or anyone else for that

> matter that has any advise on new foods to try or have had similar

> experiences, I would sure appreciate hearing from you.

> Thanks!

> Laurie

[Guest guest]

> > HI everyone,

> > My 19 yr old son is 2 1/2 weeks post op and is frustrated and

> > depressed. He looks great, but he is so tired of drinking his meals

> > that he is practically refusing to eat. He has lost 12 lbs and can

> > not afford to lose any more. He is very thin. His face is suddenly

> > breaking out, too. Any teenagers out there or anyone else for that

> > matter that has any advise on new foods to try or have had similar

> > experiences, I would sure appreciate hearing from you.

> > Thanks!

> > Laurie

I lost over 30 lbs but it didnt hurt for me...I needed to lose a few

[Guest guest]

> > HI everyone,

> > My 19 yr old son is 2 1/2 weeks post op and is frustrated and

> > depressed. He looks great, but he is so tired of drinking his meals

> > that he is practically refusing to eat. He has lost 12 lbs and can

> > not afford to lose any more. He is very thin. His face is suddenly

> > breaking out, too. Any teenagers out there or anyone else for that

> > matter that has any advise on new foods to try or have had similar

> > experiences, I would sure appreciate hearing from you.

> > Thanks!

> > Laurie

I lost over 30 lbs but it didnt hurt for me...I needed to lose a few

[Guest guest]

hey laurie, tell ur son i know exactly how hes feeling, im 20 and im

3 and a half weeks post op, and I too got really frustrated and

occasionally depressed, I still bite the head of my parents quite

frequently but I think theyre used to it by now, i never knew I

would experience acne after this so ya can imagine my horror when my

once crystal clear complextion became horribly oily and spots broke

out mostly around my chin but on my chest too!!! as for the food its

a real pain im the ass, i got sick and tired of eating to the point

where i was eating only 2 meals a day and a cup of coffee or 2 but i

had to make myself eat because i know i need the nutrients even if

im not hungry, at the moment sleeping is my bigggest problem i can

now open my mouth but cant chew yet but still its nice to be able to

eat something a bit more substantial than liquid like scramble eggs

and mashed potatoes mmm, ive lost around 10 pounds but im really

small and light as it is so i have to pile on more calories whenever

i can but i must admit i ant take much more ice cream of

custard!!!, encourage your son to have his friends over more coz my

close friends really lifted my spirits and made me smile even when

it hurt to do so, im making my first significant public outing

tonight at a 21st birthday party where most ppl who im gonna see

didnt even know i was gonna have this op so it should be fun trying

to explain it over and over again anyways i wish your son the

best tell him to post a few words himself on this site its quite

uplifting when ya speak to someone in the same situation who

understands what your going through

good luck,

Marie

> > > HI everyone,

> > > My 19 yr old son is 2 1/2 weeks post op and is frustrated and

> > > depressed. He looks great, but he is so tired of drinking his

meals

> > > that he is practically refusing to eat. He has lost 12 lbs and

can

> > > not afford to lose any more. He is very thin. His face is

suddenly

> > > breaking out, too. Any teenagers out there or anyone else for

that

> > > matter that has any advise on new foods to try or have had

similar

> > > experiences, I would sure appreciate hearing from you.

> > > Thanks!

> > > Laurie

>

> I lost over 30 lbs but it didnt hurt for me...I needed to lose a

few

[Guest guest]

hey laurie, tell ur son i know exactly how hes feeling, im 20 and im

3 and a half weeks post op, and I too got really frustrated and

occasionally depressed, I still bite the head of my parents quite

frequently but I think theyre used to it by now, i never knew I

would experience acne after this so ya can imagine my horror when my

once crystal clear complextion became horribly oily and spots broke

out mostly around my chin but on my chest too!!! as for the food its

a real pain im the ass, i got sick and tired of eating to the point

where i was eating only 2 meals a day and a cup of coffee or 2 but i

had to make myself eat because i know i need the nutrients even if

im not hungry, at the moment sleeping is my bigggest problem i can

now open my mouth but cant chew yet but still its nice to be able to

eat something a bit more substantial than liquid like scramble eggs

and mashed potatoes mmm, ive lost around 10 pounds but im really

small and light as it is so i have to pile on more calories whenever

i can but i must admit i ant take much more ice cream of

custard!!!, encourage your son to have his friends over more coz my

close friends really lifted my spirits and made me smile even when

it hurt to do so, im making my first significant public outing

tonight at a 21st birthday party where most ppl who im gonna see

didnt even know i was gonna have this op so it should be fun trying

to explain it over and over again anyways i wish your son the

best tell him to post a few words himself on this site its quite

uplifting when ya speak to someone in the same situation who

understands what your going through

good luck,

Marie

> > > HI everyone,

> > > My 19 yr old son is 2 1/2 weeks post op and is frustrated and

> > > depressed. He looks great, but he is so tired of drinking his

meals

> > > that he is practically refusing to eat. He has lost 12 lbs and

can

> > > not afford to lose any more. He is very thin. His face is

suddenly

> > > breaking out, too. Any teenagers out there or anyone else for

that

> > > matter that has any advise on new foods to try or have had

similar

> > > experiences, I would sure appreciate hearing from you.

> > > Thanks!

> > > Laurie

>

> I lost over 30 lbs but it didnt hurt for me...I needed to lose a

few

[Guest guest]

I wish I had ever in my whole life been " really thin. " Sigh.

But that's not what you're asking about.

Your son, and anybody else in this spot, needs to understand, believe

and function on the basis that the healing takes some calories =

energy, and so does existing.

Refusing to eat, drink, whatever, to get that food in, should not be

in his mindset, nor his vocabulary. If he wants to heal, he must take

in some nutrition. If not, not you, not I, can help him.

What you can do is put up with the depression and try to give him

nourishing foods that will help with the intake. Encourage him to get

outside in the sunshine, enjoy the things he can enjoy. But he needs

to know, understand and believe that part of the responsibility is

his, as well.

I have tried my damndest to help someone going through treatment for

awful cancer stuff. Believe me, the patient has to work harder than

the caregiver. Mine did. Bless him! And I hope you will tell your son

that I said so -- not to bat him down, but to try to persuade him

that he must also work at it, whether he feels inclined or not. To

give up can be wimpy, and unfair to the caregivers.

Breaking out is not uncommon, but will go away. If he hasn't a tube

in his stomach through which you are pumping Ensure or Boost, he has

little ground for complaint.

He's young, and I hope this is the worst he's yet encountered. But he

needs to know also that this is not the worst he may experience in

what I hope will be a long, productive and most wonderful life.

Cammie

>

> > HI everyone,

> > My 19 yr old son is 2 1/2 weeks post op and is frustrated and

> > depressed. He looks great, but he is so tired of drinking his

meals

> > that he is practically refusing to eat. He has lost 12 lbs and

can

> > not afford to lose any more. He is very thin. His face is

suddenly

> > breaking out, too. Any teenagers out there or anyone else for

that

> > matter that has any advise on new foods to try or have had

similar

> > experiences, I would sure appreciate hearing from you.

> > Thanks!

> > Laurie

[Guest guest]

I wish I had ever in my whole life been " really thin. " Sigh.

But that's not what you're asking about.

Your son, and anybody else in this spot, needs to understand, believe

and function on the basis that the healing takes some calories =

energy, and so does existing.

Refusing to eat, drink, whatever, to get that food in, should not be

in his mindset, nor his vocabulary. If he wants to heal, he must take

in some nutrition. If not, not you, not I, can help him.

What you can do is put up with the depression and try to give him

nourishing foods that will help with the intake. Encourage him to get

outside in the sunshine, enjoy the things he can enjoy. But he needs

to know, understand and believe that part of the responsibility is

his, as well.

I have tried my damndest to help someone going through treatment for

awful cancer stuff. Believe me, the patient has to work harder than

the caregiver. Mine did. Bless him! And I hope you will tell your son

that I said so -- not to bat him down, but to try to persuade him

that he must also work at it, whether he feels inclined or not. To

give up can be wimpy, and unfair to the caregivers.

Breaking out is not uncommon, but will go away. If he hasn't a tube

in his stomach through which you are pumping Ensure or Boost, he has

little ground for complaint.

He's young, and I hope this is the worst he's yet encountered. But he

needs to know also that this is not the worst he may experience in

what I hope will be a long, productive and most wonderful life.

Cammie

>

> > HI everyone,

> > My 19 yr old son is 2 1/2 weeks post op and is frustrated and

> > depressed. He looks great, but he is so tired of drinking his

meals

> > that he is practically refusing to eat. He has lost 12 lbs and

can

> > not afford to lose any more. He is very thin. His face is

suddenly

> > breaking out, too. Any teenagers out there or anyone else for

that

> > matter that has any advise on new foods to try or have had

similar

> > experiences, I would sure appreciate hearing from you.

> > Thanks!

> > Laurie

[Guest guest]

Here is a link with some post-op nutrition info.

http://www.hss.edu/htdoc/womensport/docs/HEALING.pdf

It says taht the body needs 15 to 20 calories per lb of body weight

for the healing process. So even if your sone only weight 100 lbs he

would still need to consume at least 2000 calories to heal properly.

Maybe reading this will give him some persepective on how much he

needs to eat and why.

Marsha

> > > HI everyone,

> > > My 19 yr old son is 2 1/2 weeks post op and is frustrated and

> > > depressed. He looks great, but he is so tired of drinking his

> meals

> > > that he is practically refusing to eat. He has lost 12 lbs and

> can

> > > not afford to lose any more. He is very thin. His face is

> suddenly

> > > breaking out, too. Any teenagers out there or anyone else for

> that

> > > matter that has any advise on new foods to try or have had

> similar

> > > experiences, I would sure appreciate hearing from you.

> > > Thanks!

> > > Laurie

[Guest guest]

Here is a link with some post-op nutrition info.

http://www.hss.edu/htdoc/womensport/docs/HEALING.pdf

It says taht the body needs 15 to 20 calories per lb of body weight

for the healing process. So even if your sone only weight 100 lbs he

would still need to consume at least 2000 calories to heal properly.

Maybe reading this will give him some persepective on how much he

needs to eat and why.

Marsha

> > > HI everyone,

> > > My 19 yr old son is 2 1/2 weeks post op and is frustrated and

> > > depressed. He looks great, but he is so tired of drinking his

> meals

> > > that he is practically refusing to eat. He has lost 12 lbs and

> can

> > > not afford to lose any more. He is very thin. His face is

> suddenly

> > > breaking out, too. Any teenagers out there or anyone else for

> that

> > > matter that has any advise on new foods to try or have had

> similar

> > > experiences, I would sure appreciate hearing from you.

> > > Thanks!

> > > Laurie