Saturday Afternoon Venting

[Guest guest]

Whew.. the last 24 hours have been a bit of a challenge and I couldn't think of

anywhere else to turn but here...

My friend is a little over 6 weeks post op and the past couple of weeks

have been a bit challenging.

We've been having a hard time finding foods that will agree with her and she's

also finding it hard getting all the fluids she's supposed to on a daily basis.

She does tolerate soup (or at least broth) very well. So, last night I welcomed

her suggestion to go to one of our favorite restaurants (Carlucci's in West

Pembroke Pines, Florida) so she could have a bowl of soup and I could eat as

well. We have been regular customers there since the restaurant opened.

Last night they treated us worse than if we were dogs who had walked in off the

street. The service and treatment could not have been worse!

When we asked the waitress if it was possible to strain the soup so only

could have the broth, she came back to say the kitchen was " too busy. " I

immediately asked for a manager and explained the problem... even showing him

the card that has from her doc saying that she is on a special diet. His

response left me completely mortified!

He invited me to go to the kitchen with him to see how busy they were.

That was challenge # 1.

Challenge #2 began this morning when got up complaining of sever abdominal

pains and a feeling that she had to urinate but couldn't.

Seven hours in the emergency room later... We just got home. She was diagnosed

with low potassium levels and a urinary tract infection. She's downstairs

sleeping (good meds) and I'm upstairs worrying on the computer.

All of her other blood work and x-rays came back fine, and her surgeon and

emergency room doctor concur on the diagnosis. But I'm scared to death. And,

even though she won't admit it, she is too.

Anyone on this list have a similar experience? The doctor says low postassium

is causing a lot of her symptoms and the infection is due to her not getting

enough water. Also, she's about 3 days pre-menstrual.

OK, enough whining.

Your thoughts and input would help make this very exhausted caregiver feel a bit

better (sorry if I sound so needy.)

Barb

[Guest guest]

Venting is good!!! Hang in there, caregiving can be very hard at

times. is very blessed to have a friend like you!! When times

get tough, just remember " this too shall pass " .

Although, Carlucci's may be (or was!!) your favorite restaurant, for

the kind of service they delivered on your last visit they don't

deserve your money or patronage. It's time to find a new favorite

restaurant!!

Take Care and Best Wishes to ,

in MI

Lap Rny 11/18/03

236/220.5 (off my mini-plateau)/?

-- In Gastric_Bypass_Family , " Barbara A. Besteni "

wrote:

>

> Whew.. the last 24 hours have been a bit of a challenge and I

couldn't think of anywhere else to turn but here...

>

> My friend is a little over 6 weeks post op and the past

couple of weeks have been a bit challenging.

>

> We've been having a hard time finding foods that will agree with

her and she's also finding it hard getting all the fluids she's

supposed to on a daily basis.

>

> She does tolerate soup (or at least broth) very well. So, last

night I welcomed her suggestion to go to one of our favorite

restaurants (Carlucci's in West Pembroke Pines, Florida) so she could

have a bowl of soup and I could eat as well. We have been regular

customers there since the restaurant opened.

>

> Last night they treated us worse than if we were dogs who had

walked in off the street. The service and treatment could not have

been worse!

>

> When we asked the waitress if it was possible to strain the soup so

only could have the broth, she came back to say the kitchen

was " too busy. " I immediately asked for a manager and explained the

problem... even showing him the card that has from her doc

saying that she is on a special diet. His response left me

completely mortified!

>

> He invited me to go to the kitchen with him to see how busy they

were.

>

> That was challenge # 1.

>

> Challenge #2 began this morning when got up complaining of

sever abdominal pains and a feeling that she had to urinate but

couldn't.

>

> Seven hours in the emergency room later... We just got home. She

was diagnosed with low potassium levels and a urinary tract

infection. She's downstairs sleeping (good meds) and I'm upstairs

worrying on the computer.

>

> All of her other blood work and x-rays came back fine, and her

surgeon and emergency room doctor concur on the diagnosis. But I'm

scared to death. And, even though she won't admit it, she is too.

>

> Anyone on this list have a similar experience? The doctor says low

postassium is causing a lot of her symptoms and the infection is due

to her not getting enough water. Also, she's about 3 days pre-

menstrual.

>

> OK, enough whining.

>

> Your thoughts and input would help make this very exhausted

caregiver feel a bit better (sorry if I sound so needy.)

>

> Barb

>

>

[Guest guest]

I think its wonderful that you are able to offer your friend such

great support and compassionate care.

Honestly, different people had the time to tell you and show you that

they didn't have time to strain soup? What a laugh. If they had

used the time it took to treat you badly to strain the soup they

probably still would have time left over to treat someone else badly.

What a shame.

Anyway, the water and potassium issue...

At nearly 3 months post op I was admitted into the emergency for

severe dehydration and potassium deficiency. I didn't have a bladder

infection, but did have that feeling of needing to urinate all the

time. I was tired, lethargic, dizzy, weak, constantly nauseated, had

heart palpatations, and confusion. All these symptoms began to

improve after I was treated with IV's to increase my hydration and

potassium. It was such an awful experience and I vowed that I would

never get in that state again. I took in all the water I was

required no matter how I felt about it, drank Propel to increase my

electrolytes, and ate half a banana with peanut butter every morning.

It seemed to work for me and after recovering from that icky state,

things have been great physically.

Good luck to both of you.

**Don't dwell on past failures, dream of future successes.**

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Toi ~ Colorado

Lap RNY Medial Bypass

12/31/02

308/163/145

St. Mark's Hospital

Salt Lake City, UT

Dr. Simper

[Guest guest]

what bozos @ that restaurant!! reminds me of a story a wls friend

told me about yet another s fl establishment: when she asked for a

kid's portion, they told her, " what!!? you think if al roker walks

in here we'll drop everything & honor HIS request? " she was in a

group of 12 & they all walked out.

hope kelly gets well soon.

lori h.

[Guest guest]

Toi:

You are describing 's symptoms perfectly!

Right now she's exhausted and sleeping a lot... but tomorrow she's scheduled to

see her surgeon. I have a feeling is going to do everything she can to

get her water, potassium and protein down no matter what.

Perhaps this is the silver lining in this experience!

Warmest Regards,

Barb

Re: Saturday Afternoon Venting

I think its wonderful that you are able to offer your friend such

great support and compassionate care.

Honestly, different people had the time to tell you and show you that

they didn't have time to strain soup? What a laugh. If they had

used the time it took to treat you badly to strain the soup they

probably still would have time left over to treat someone else badly.

What a shame.

Anyway, the water and potassium issue...

At nearly 3 months post op I was admitted into the emergency for

severe dehydration and potassium deficiency. I didn't have a bladder

infection, but did have that feeling of needing to urinate all the

time. I was tired, lethargic, dizzy, weak, constantly nauseated, had

heart palpatations, and confusion. All these symptoms began to

improve after I was treated with IV's to increase my hydration and

potassium. It was such an awful experience and I vowed that I would

never get in that state again. I took in all the water I was

required no matter how I felt about it, drank Propel to increase my

electrolytes, and ate half a banana with peanut butter every morning.

It seemed to work for me and after recovering from that icky state,

things have been great physically.

Good luck to both of you.

**Don't dwell on past failures, dream of future successes.**

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Toi ~ Colorado

Lap RNY Medial Bypass

12/31/02

308/163/145

St. Mark's Hospital

Salt Lake City, UT

Dr. Simper

[Guest guest]

Dear Barb,

As a caregiver, you are to be soooooo commended. Kelli is very

fortunate to have someone who cares so much in her corner for her.

I'm really sorry for the Carlucci's experience. I have the restaurant

card too and have always hesitated using it. My feeling is that

restaurants are in the business of selling food and they don't care how

much (or how little) of it you can eat, they just want to make their

money. That being said, however, there is no excuse for their attitude

about straining the soup. As far as I'm concerned, that's the same type

of request as asking for a well done steak. You were ordering something

the way you 'like' to eat it. They should be ashamed of their lack of

customer service. I know it wouldn't make a bit of difference to them,

but they wouldn't be seeing my money any time soon...

As for the UTI that Kelli has, at least in my neck 'o the woods, it's

very common. Usually it's caused by the foley catheter from the

hospitalization and takes a short while to show up. It should be

cleared pretty quickly with antibiotics.

Is Kelli taking any kind of diuretic? Usually that will cause a low

potassium state. If she's taking a diuretic, she should be matching it

with a potassium, pill for pill is my doctor's protocol. I had been

taking 3 lasix per day pre-op, and 3 potassium. Now I'm down to one of

each. The diuretics rob your system of potassium. It's important to

supplement that if she's on any diuretic for any length of time.

Good luck to both of you. Find a new favorite restaurant. The bigger

chains (Chilis, TGI Fridays, and that type) are very WLS friendly (also

in my neck 'o the woods).

live each day like it's your last... love like you've never been hurt...

Deb in Hazlet, NJ

" Debbie Dancer "

distal rny

September 3, 2002

386/221/165

BMI 60/32.6/24

-165

-92.5 "

Angel to Bill, Debbie, Ilene, Roy, and Ro