My liquid diet started Monday, September 21st, 2020. I had spent the previous 3 days with my parents eating steak and drowning ourselves in red wine. (that's how we roll) So, a little detox was probably what my body needed.
I almost talked myself out of starting Monday. I was going to clean eat on Monday and officially start on Tuesday. I was afraid that it would be too hard while I was still working in the office. However, I realized that I was just bullshitting myself. If I was going to say that this whole process was about being safe and healthy yet I wasn't willing to follow the doctor's order on what he needed me to do to make the surgery easier for him, therefore, safer for me, I wasn't doing my part and I wasn't ready for this huge step.
For my EGD that was scheduled for a Monday, the COVID test was the Wednesday before. I assumed it would be the same for my Monday surgery, so that is how I filled my FMLA paperwork. However, they ended up scheduling my COVID test for the Saturday before my Monday surgery. Shhhh... I didn't tell work and as of Wednesday, September 23rd, I am off for the next two and half weeks. I am burnt out at work, so I really needed a break, and I took it. I wanted to get my house ready and food prep and have a bit of time to mentally prepare.\
Having a friend who had gone through the exact same procedure just under a year before was beyond helpful. I don't think I could put a price on that resource. And not just during liquid, the whole process. I'm someone who is anxious when I'm going into anything that I'm unfamiliar with and don't know exactly what is going to happen and when. Elizabeth has held my hand this entire process. She's encouraged me, listened to my concerns, and been my biggest cheerleader.
I made a few rules for my family the week of the liquid diet that I think it worked really well. I have small children who know I'm having a procedure done, but don't understand what it is and what it is for. First thing I did was take over the kitchen table with puzzles. This made it impossible for anyone to eat in the kitchen. If they are going eat, they had to go eat in front of the television. That kept the eating away from me and my kids thought it was the greatest thing ever. Without asking, my husband stopped eating dinner until after I had gone to bed. Most nights were spent keeping my hands and mind occupied with puzzles. My husband ended up joining me every night and we actually had some bonding time; it was fun! I would usually take a mild sleep aid about 9 and head to bed. I'm a bit of a night owl, so 9 was very early for me. I knew I would just lay there without a sleep aid. But going to bed was a way to stop the hunger for the day. Easy out.
Day 1 & 2 - Luckily (bad choice of words), we had a COVID exposure at work and half our department was sent home (everyone is okay), but we had to scramble to get the work done and we were SO BUSY Monday and Tuesday. Food was the last thing on my mind and I barely had time to get my 2 protein shakes in. I did get my workout in though, both days. I didn't need my jello or other crutches, there wasn't time. I made my kids dinner night one with no problems, but night two, I just wanted to eat everything and everything smelled so delicious. Mind you, it was a week of prepared foods that I usually don't make for dinners. Chicken tenders, french fries, fried fish tacos, all things way out of the norm. Again, my kids were in heaven.
Day 3 - The 3rd day was the hardest. I don't know if it's because I'm was at home and work wasn't keeping me busy. It was the same thing when I had to work from home last spring. I gained 9 pounds and not having my daily routine just killed me. My husband scolds me for being to reliant on routine, but it's how I function. I made it through the day, but it was by far the toughest yet. Because I was so miserable, I didn't go for a walk, and I think I would have felt better if I had. I slipped a little vodka in my evening Gatorade Zero because there has to be SOME joy in life, but really, it just ripped up my stomach. I did get a buzz from about a shot though since I hadn't eaten anything in 3 days!
Day 4 - I had gone to bed very early and woke up feeling well and rested. No morning hunger. I'm down 6 pounds at this point from the beginning of liquid. Down 21 from my highest weight. Every morning I'm still drinking my decaf with just a tablespoon or so of plain, unsweetened coffeemate creamer. I had my coffee, got my kids out the door, and went for a walk. As of 9:30, I have more steps in than I got all day yesterday. Maybe that was part of the problem - lack of movement. Exercise quells my hunger temporarily during and after. Once I got home from my walk, I was hungry and had a shake. I distracted myself the rest of the day with retail therapy. Went and got a pedicure, went to H&M and looked at all the clothes I hope to fit into someday, and wandered aimlessly in Target. It was a great distraction and made the day go fast. The evening was a bit harder, but again, buried myself in a puzzle and headed to bed.
Day 5, 6, and 7 - at this point I had turned a corner and it went a little easier. Mind you, at any time I could have sat down to an 8 course dinner, but the hunger pangs weren't quite as sharp or all consuming. The end was near and I could see my goal. Surgery was Monday and I was ready to get it over with
