I am now almost four weeks post op and have recovered really well. I worried about how I would cope with eating and how it would impact on my life!
I have found all the advice on this Forum invaluable as sharing tips and experiences has really helped . So I am writing this blog as it may help others.
Physically I am still building up my strength and walk everyday. I can now manage 2 to 3 miles! I am tired at night and sleep well. During the day I just try to make sure I have a rest if I have been out walking or doing things around the house. I have no pain at all and even post op the pain was really minimal and well managed.
Emotionally I found my thin hair really upsetting! I didn’t lose it during chemo but it thinned and looked like baby hair or a granny’s hair. I got it cut short which helped and it is growing back!
Eating has been a challenge but I did a lot of research on the internet and bought a book Eating after a Gastrectomy. A few things have helped as I need to try not to lose any more weight . I have kept a food diary and logged the food using my Fitbit. This has helped to see how many calories I am eating and using and for the first time in my life I need to eat more than I use!
Eating little and often and soft foods for the first few weeks has been fine. My diet has been coconut porridge made with coconut milk and banana ( a Deliciously Ella recipe) with a little Greek yoghurt with some stewed apples, pears and strawberries for breakfast. A morning snack of a smoothie using the Nutribullet, full fat yoghurt or a latte or a pancake with jam. Lunch is usually soup or eggs and avocado. In the afternoon the same snack as the morning. At teatime I have cottage pie or fish pie or baked potato with cheese or tuna. I have also had chicken casserole with mashed potato or pasta with tomato sauce. I had roast chicken with cauliflower cheese for Sunday dinner! At bedtime I have hot chocolate!
Portion size is a bit of trial and error. I started with only 6 tablespoons and a small side plate and am increasing it a little. I was not a big eater before so I am not finding a huge difference.
I haven’t eaten bread yet and am careful about sweet things as I want to avoid dumping syndrome ! I also don’t drink and eat at the same time. Drink half an hour before and after eating.
I had one night when I felt uncomfortable in the first week home as I had eaten too much but apart from that I have been fine.
I have been out for coffee and breakfast with family and friends so feel confident that I will be able to enjoy all the things I did before the operation!
