RE: Saturday Afternoon Venting, Barb

[Guest guest]

Barb, unfortunately I don't have any answers, but you did right by getting

her to the emergency room. As for the restaurant experience, I don't think

I have bad enough words for it. It upsets me, as I too have the card, and

planned to use it basically to get tiny meals in the future. My husband and

I thought we never eat everything, so we can split a meal. However, I know

we'll get flack from that too. It seems to upset the staff! Give me a

break! In the time the manager came out, he could have strained more than 1

bowl of soup!

I have high potassium levels and take medication to keep it down, as my

kidney's aren't filtering it out. But I've wondered about taking the

medication now in case it gets too low. I am probably fine, as during the

admit to the hospital, they re-ran the potassium levels because they were

high. And after surgery, I was told my potassium was high. I'll get a

blood test Tues. and see how it is. I'm assuming they gave her something

for the low potassium?? Hope it straightens out soon.

Meanwhile, keep posting and asking questions. I hope someone has some

answers. The bladder infection and symptoms and cause sound correct.

Joan C, Calif.

LAP RNY 11/18/03

Dr. Higa, Fresno, CA

282/254/140

Saturday Afternoon Venting

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]

Joan:

The irony of it all is that this is one of our favorite restaurants and it's the

first one that has treated us this way.

We've been to several restaurants since 's surgery and I've been amazed by

how well we've been treated. On Thanksgiving day we went to Don Shula's on Fort

Lauderdale beach and the staff could not have been more supportive.

In fact, the waitress told us her mom had been post op for over a year and she

even made a few suggestions as to what could eat. Thanks to her help, we

had a wonderful time.

It was a Thanksgiving to remember... because we had so much to be thankful for.

Don't be too concerned about getting flack from restaurants. In fact, except

for last night, our experience has been very positive. We usually find

ourselves apologizing for sharing a meal, and the response is usually... " Oh, no

problem... people share meals all the time. "

Any restaurant that wants to be successful these days has to recognize, and be

sensitive to, the needs of the dietary needs of their community.

If not, they don't deserve to be in business.

Warmest Regards,

Barb

Saturday Afternoon Venting

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]

Barb, Thanks for the eating out advice. It's good to hear that there are

many restaurants that acknowledge what we need.

Joan C, Calif.

LAP RNY 11/18/03

Dr. Higa, Fresno, CA

282/254/140

Re: Saturday Afternoon Venting, Barb

Joan:

The irony of it all is that this is one of our favorite restaurants and it's

the first one that has treated us this way.

We've been to several restaurants since 's surgery and I've been amazed

by how well we've been treated. On Thanksgiving day we went to Don Shula's

on Fort Lauderdale beach and the staff could not have been more supportive.

In fact, the waitress told us her mom had been post op for over a year and

she even made a few suggestions as to what could eat. Thanks to her

help, we had a wonderful time.

It was a Thanksgiving to remember... because we had so much to be thankful

for.

Don't be too concerned about getting flack from restaurants. In fact,

except for last night, our experience has been very positive. We usually

find ourselves apologizing for sharing a meal, and the response is

usually... " Oh, no problem... people share meals all the time. "

Any restaurant that wants to be successful these days has to recognize, and

be sensitive to, the needs of the dietary needs of their community.

If not, they don't deserve to be in business.

Warmest Regards,

Barb

[Guest guest]

Barb,

Very nicely said, and so very true.

How lucky your friend is to have you in her life!

pre-op

2-05-04

-- Re: Saturday Afternoon Venting, Barb

Joan:

The irony of it all is that this is one of our favorite restaurants and it's

the first one that has treated us this way.

We've been to several restaurants since 's surgery and I've been amazed

by how well we've been treated. On Thanksgiving day we went to Don Shula's

on Fort Lauderdale beach and the staff could not have been more supportive.

In fact, the waitress told us her mom had been post op for over a year and

she even made a few suggestions as to what could eat. Thanks to her

help, we had a wonderful time.

It was a Thanksgiving to remember... because we had so much to be thankful

for.

Don't be too concerned about getting flack from restaurants. In fact,

except for last night, our experience has been very positive. We usually

find ourselves apologizing for sharing a meal, and the response is usually..

" Oh, no problem... people share meals all the time. "

Any restaurant that wants to be successful these days has to recognize, and

be sensitive to, the needs of the dietary needs of their community.

If not, they don't deserve to be in business.

Warmest Regards,

Barb

Saturday Afternoon Venting

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