56 ounces?!

My liquid diet consists of drinking 40 ounces of carnation instant breakfast protein shakes and 16 ounces or more of clear liquids each day. Really that's only 7 eight ounce glasses in 24 hours. Most people drink more than that in one day. This is REALLY REALLY hard. I have been on this stage diet since Wednesday and although they said the first few days I wouldn't be able to drink that much I would shortly after. Well, it's Sunday night and I haven't even hit 40 ounces yet today. I have greatly increased my intake since Thursday - 26 ounces on Thursday, 29 ounces on Friday, 37 ounces on Saturday and so far 36 ounces today (and I still have one more protein shake to go.) I NEVER feel hungry... which is good in once sense... but it makes it really hard to make yourself eat. I would say that is one of my top 3 struggles so far since surgery.
1. My whole world revolves around when to eat, what to eat
2. How dependent I am on others due to my tiredness
3. My lack of feeling hunger pains/full pains

All three of these struggles intertwine with each other - they effect each other and really sometimes are the domino effect of one of them.

I literally have to set alarms on my cell phone to go off every 3 hours to tell me it's time for another protein shake. I begin my days at 8 AM. So I have shakes at 8, 11, 2, 5, and 8PM. Now in between each of these times I also must get in another 16 or more clear fluid ounces prior to bed at night. BUT, I can't drink those 30 minutes before or after I've had a protein shake. Once I begin real food I won't be able to drink 30 minutes before or after I've eaten. This can stretch the stomach too much, expand the food I am eating and cause a blockage, and/or fill me up and then I am not getting enough nutrients from lack of proper food intake. Eating 8 ounces of a protein shake takes me 1 hour. I can't drink more than 2 ounces in 15 minutes or I get really nauseous and have pain in between my shoulder blades (they say this is a sign of being full.) The 8 and 11 are typically easier to get all 8 ounces down, the 2 is good up to the last 2 ounces, the 5 is killer - usually after 4 ounces I am dying and I have yet to drink more than 2 ounces at the 8 PM. I am super tired right now too. When I wake up in the morning, I have the most energy - but within 30 minutes it's gone. The more tired I get, the more pain I seem to be in, which means the harder it is to get up and move around. Yet, I am supposed to be taking several short walks a day - I am counting walks around the house as short walks!! Today I felt like I had taken a 90 minute super intense aerobic class after my shower. I had to go downstairs to my room to get clothes, come back up stairs to the main level. I took a 5 minute rest once back upstairs, then went upstairs to the 3rd floor to the bathroom to take a shower. I took my shower (which now takes a good 10 minutes cause I can't move quickly.) After the shower then I had to dry off and get dressed, brush my hair and stuff. Then back down stairs. Whew! I was dripping in sweat and very out of breath after my shower. I can't bend over to put on socks or shoes so that's frustrating that mom or dad have to do that for me. If I recline back too far in the chair, someone has to help me up, I can't carry anything over 5 pounds, and on top of all of this, I am sleeping in the living room right now (since stairs are killer and I am up 3-5 times a night to go to the bathroom) I HAVE NO ALONE KATE TIME!!! The living room is where mom and dad hang out, and is now my "bedroom" too. I love my parents, and they are doing LOTS for me - but seriously - I need to be able to do stairs soon! lol!

I know a lot of these struggles will get better as I recover - but I like to be independent, and having to rely on others for most everything right now - that's been really hard. I do feel a little better with each day. I have finally begun to get rid of a lot of the gas from my abdomen - which makes you feel a whole lot better! I've had some great visitors (although it's crazy how tired I get after visiting for even a short amount of time!) Wonderful people calling and checking up on me, the kids texting me... it's all be great! I don't miss work, really it's not like I've left - I get daily updates anyways. But I miss the teens and the people....

Oh yeah - I've also lost 10.5 pounds since coming home from the hospital!

Time for a protein shake..... :)