? for anyone who's had surgery

[choeve]

I am going out for surgery in a little over 2 weeks and I was wondering if anyone has had to have surgery and how it effected your weight loss. I will be having a tear in my shoulder repaired, and a bone spur shaved off too. I will be out of work for at least 2 weeks maybe longer. I had surgery to repair a hernia back in February and it made me sooooo weak, but I was eating anything and everything then so eating better may help this time. I plan to stay on plan right thru it all. Just curious how it will effect my weight.

[Pineapple]

Re: ? for anyone who's had surgery

I always lose weight when I go in, even if it's just something small like wisdom teeth out! I think it's only because I eat less but it's been between 5-20 pounds depending on how long recovery is.

[bjs1976]

Re: ? for anyone who's had surgery

I hear your concern. I am in the same boat and worried as well. As, in the past before you even get out of recovery they are pushing the saltines. I am looking at a 3-5 day hospital stay. I know the hospital tries to accomadate dietary needs, BUT I am sure they would flip if I asked them to follow Atkins. So I am just hoping my menu choices will allow me to chose some low carb options. I wonder if I would benefit if I requested a diabetic meal plan. Although, not being diabetic I am not sure they would oblidge. I will just have to order salads and have my family bring in food.

I hope my IV's do not contain glucose, guess that would throw me for a loop

Hope that they do not push too many saltines, ect after surgery. My recovery will be 6-8 weeks, so I am sure that is not going to help. SO I really want to stay on track with the food, as it will be difficult to get my excersise in..

Best of luck to you!!

[Jasmain]

Re: ? for anyone who's had surgery

Depending on the area of the surgery, it differs, would be my guess. Depends on how much your body tries to protect itself, I think it's normal also to gain a bit of weight on the scale afterwards due to swelling etc, water weight from the anesthesia etc and whatever they give you in the way of meds after for pain, and to fight infection. Mobility is a key too, you need to keep moving after, as soon as you can that is, and don't let yourself get the bored eating disease!

Good luck, I'm sure you'll do great if you just stick to the plan and don't let any bad habits creep in. If you gain a pound or two from the anesthesia and swelling, it will go away!

[Binsk]

Re: ? for anyone who's had surgery

Sorry to hear that you are going in for surgery. Your body may have a slight blood sugar spike after surgery, this is normal and part of the body's defence, it would happen after any trauma. I would speak to them at the hospital and tell them you are following low carb, the worst they can say is we won't help you. Tell them not to give you a glucose IV, but just saline if possible. These things should be discussed with them now and not the day that you are admitted. I am diabetic and I found that they still pushed the whole wheat bread and other higher carb options. It would probably be a good idea to take some Babybel cheese with you, it doesn't need to be refridgerated and ask your family to bring you SF Jello and other SF drinks as you may be on fluids the first few days. Be prepared and you should have no trouble. Don't rely on the hospital to have everything you need (Splenda, etc.)

We will be thinking about you.

[Analog6]

Re: ? for anyone who's had surgery

Here is dream of 145s advice on how she coped inhospital for her recent knee surgery. The thread is here http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ad.php?t=28549


Well, I thought I'd take a few minutes and update you on how my PLAN worked for me in the hospital. I wrote on my dietary sheet LOW CARB MEALS ONLY. The first day they let me eat, they sent me spaghetti, salad loaded with carrots, croutons and beets, cake, and milk. I didn't complain. I picked at the salad and ate what I could, then I ate one of my emergency packets from my suitcase. So, when I sent the tray back nearly untouched...a guy came to my room from the cafeteria. He wanted to know if there was a problem. I said, "No, there is no problem, I eat low-carb" He said, "Oh, you're on a low-carb diet?" I said, "I live a low-carb life-style and the foods you sent don't agree with my plan." He then read off a bunch of food choices that I could have for all three meals. After that...I had delicious meals that fit my life-style. I even had two nurses come in and ask about my meals and weight-loss. When I left, they both said they were going to buy the book and give Atkins a try. But, what I want to say is that you never know when you will need your plan. Have one with you every where you go. There are no excuses for not having a plan. We all generally have an idea where we are going each day and what obstacles we might face. We should always plan for negative people and/or foods that will tempt us. I always carry an emergency baggie with me. Even if I don't think I'll need it. Just in case

[choeve]

Re: ? for anyone who's had surgery

Mine is going to be an out patient thing. I will go to a surgical clinic that morning and be out that afternoon. They probably will ask me to drink something before I go usually juice or a soda. I was just wondering how recovery will effect weight loss. I will be doing physical therapy at some point starting off 3 times a week. If I get to do it with my chiropractor she also lets me use her equipment for a little extra exercise like the treadmill for 10 to 15 minutes to get the blood moving.

[2big4mysize]

Re: ? for anyone who's had surgery

it will depend on you and your metabolism.

I had both knees done and while the eating wasn't an issue missing my regular exercise program really stressed me. Since your workouts will be less you will be able to handle less carbs then you were if you are in the vigourous exercise catogorie ( 45 min 5 times a week gets you in there according to Dr Atkins in chapter 14) i had to cut from over 110 net carbs to just 45 since i couldn't tradmill nordo any lower body workouts for 30 days after each one.

be aware of this issue and watch your reaction to carbs closely.

[Pinky Mallone]

Re: ? for anyone who's had surgery

I had surgery recently and did gain a few pounds. I think it was water weight though. It came right back off very quickly. Before I had my surgery, I informed my care providers of my diet choices and had foods available ahead of time. Once home, I had a menu and foods already in the fridge/freezer. It made things much easier for me to stay on plan. Best wishes with your surgery! Take care.

[choeve]

Re: ? for anyone who's had surgery

My plan is (and you always need a plan you know) to go grocery shopping this weekend and make sure I have lots of legal foods in the house. Enough for a couple of weeks minus maybe a few fresh veggies that won't last long. My hubby can go mid week after those. If I have time I may even make up some meals in gladware for the fridge and freezer. I'm thinking while I'm home for those 2 weeks recovering it will be a perfect time to really do a squeaky clean induction. The kind I originally did with homemade sausages and salad dressings, only induction legal veggies and fresh meats, nothing processed at all. I plan to start walking on that following Monday which will give me 4 days after surgery to rest up first. I may not be able to walk very far at first but I think it will help me regain my strength if I walk even just to the end of the block and back. My chiropractor who is also my physical therapist said about that time I can also start doing some simple exercises just movement not weights yet so I will get those from her the day before surgery and start them that Monday also. So that's the plan to stay completely on plan and refine it a little even while I have the time off. Might as well use it constructively.

[dreamof145]

Re: ? for anyone who's had surgery

I've had two surgeries (hysterectomy and a total knee replacement) in the past 9 months. I am scheduled to have the other knee replaced in 2 weeks. It did affect my WOE/WOL in that you really have to plan for your meals and make preparations before you go into the hospital. I fixed a lot of meals and froze them. I had meatballs, pork chops, chicken and veggies. It worked out but if I had waited till I got home, it would have been more difficult to arrange the foods I needed.

AS 2BIG said, it is mainly the less active lifestyle that has really affected my plan. I haven't been very active for about 12 months now and although I do as much exercise as I can, it bothers me.

One thing I've learned is that living your LOW-CARB Lifestyle can be done regardless of what you are going through in your life. It does take planning and it is not always easy, but if you are determined, it can be done. I am already planning for the surgery I'll have in 2 weeks == getting my meals ready to be frozen and making emergency packets to take to the hospital with me in case they neglect to give me the food to satisfy my hunger.

Good luck to you. I'll be sending you lots of positive vibrations....