I made it through!
After a week of home health care, iv feeds and blood draws through a PICC line, I finally reached hydration and good nutritional levels. Although I only had a one lb weight loss, I feel so much better! I went off iv nutrition on Dec 31st and the PICC line came out on Jan 4th. I went back to work on the 7th. The really beautiful thing is that the constant foamies subsided FINALLY. I have been exhausted by my nutritional journey, but honestly, the foamies were the worst. I have experienced them once last week and once this week but that was because I still have to teach myself to slooooowwwww down. I have lost 32.2 lbs since my surgery on 11/20. Although the high calorie iv nutrition slowed my progress, I feel like I am still on track and successful. Now, if I can just get my fiancee to stop asking what I want to drink with my meals. But I am not complaining. He has been completely wonderful through the whole process. It is just so tempting!
Here is a little encouragement...the first 10 days after surgery and the 10 days before surgery I was on the dreaded clear fluid diet whi*****luded chicken broth. Well I have lymphedema which is a form of swelling where you retain lymphatic fluid...and I swelled up until my pores were weeping fluid. So hang in there because when I came off the chicken broth, like you are off the IV fluids after about 96 hours, I started expelling (wasn't that a nice way to say it) fluids like a son of a gun. I hope that will happen to you too. Stay on track and please stay hydrated. Good Luck.
