New stuff up on the blog and advice needed on a food dilemma!

[Cerulean]

Hello there - just to let you know that I have written a long thing under today's posts on my blog (link below in my signature).

Also - as you may know, I am having my wisdom teeth out on the 2nd August. I have to come out of ketosis to go under general anaesthetic, I tried to work out today if I could do that by following management principles (always looking to do it by the book, of course!) and realised that scientifically it would mean following management up until the introduction of fruit to guarantee being safely out of ketosis (this was checked with the LL medical team)

They said that I could choose to do it that way but they had no way of knowing at what point I would fall out of ketosis. My other option that they suggest is to have one meal the night before that contains carbs.

Now - I have two choices here.

I could eat a huge fruit salad (although am worried about the effect of eating just fruit after no fruit for so long)

I could eat something like quinoa or bulghur wheat or something non-comfort related - with lots of lemon and mint - something like that.

Or I could go out for a meal with my friends at an Italian restaurant I am very fond of.

The reason for the third option is that following this route is not quite how I planned it - I had just wanted to move straight over to management but I realise now that following management immediately after the op may actually be difficult - I don't want to be learning about new food whilst in pain and recovery - I might make negative associations and all that. I have decided that I will spend at least one more week in abstinence after the op (and no bars for the first 4 days) - which means that I can stay on liquids whilst my cuts are healing. Then when I am happy that the healing is going well I will begin management properly.

Does that seem reasonable? Would you go with the nice main course at a good organic restaurant that will DEFINITELY take me out of ketosis, or would you go for just fruit and risk runny bowels whilst you were drowsy? Or a middle option of a healthy carb based meal that would probably take me out of ketosis but not definitely - and not certainly in time for the op the next day?


Or - eeek - the really boring option - eating extra packs and bars the day before the op and loading them towards the night time - maybe asking my LLC for a couple of extra packs that week.

Ah. I think I've found my solution. Never mind - Il Bordello will still be there at the end of management

[SandraEG]

I'd have done the Italian but then I am easily swayed...

[yo-yo-dieter]

No advice here, but good luck with your wisdom tooth op.

I had my wisdom teeth out in 1998 and it was fine. I had all four out under a general anaesthetic, and I was only off work for one day, and eating normally after about three (nothing gets....."sorry - present tense" - I mean GOT between my food and I) LOL. Actually i suppose LL or CD is a good diet to be on isn't it after having ones wisdom teeth out, as the shakes wont hurt you!

[Mrs Lard]

Hi Sarah

I think you've already made the decision really. Like Sandra, I would have been tempted to go for the Italian - for all those happy feelings, body chemistry (nothing makes me feel as joyous as an Italian meal with friends) BUT BUT BUT then, as I am beginning to learn, how will you feel AFTERWARDS? Not immediately but say a few days down the line...will you look back and NOT remember the happy time with friends but the fact you broke abstinence? I think we both know the answer to THAT one!

You're a girl who likes to do it by the book, combined with your own super strong tenacity and high standards so...take the long-term view and you'll find the answer that is right for YOU!

I also had my wisdom teeth out (first year, uni') - all four were impacted it. You'll be amazed how quickly you recover - make sure you get lots of non-food treats (I'd say the same to anyone, regardless of their dietary habits) AND make sure you take arnica after the surgery. The swelling and bruising will be minimised.

Good luck and hope you have got people around to keep an eye on you post-surgery.

Mrs L xxxxxxxxxxx

[Alan_99]

Personaly I'd have the italian meal, for the simple reason that at the next WI you would have put on weight and that will be more of a reminder that you shouldn't be eating yet re-inforcing the need to get back into abstinence. Where as if you have fruit or such like and don't put on weight but just come out of ketosis which is pretty likely then you will have the added thing in your mind that you could cheat with fruit and not put on weight therefore adding to the temptation.
I must admit on my journey I did cheat once but had the shock of putting on 3 llbs at my next WI and it definately helped with not doing it again the fear of putting on that amount of weight.

Good luck with the operation I hope it goes really well and heals quickly for you and you make the best choice for yourself.

[fatpossum]

Cerulean,

Opt for the Italian!

[Cerulean]

Alan - I don't know if you've followed my journey (day 200 next Thursday), but other than a very weird binge/purge a couple of weeks ago (from which I got straight back on the wagon with no fuss) I wouldn't dream of mucking about with LL! The only reason I even considered the meal as an option was that I need to definitely know I am out of ketosis (you can't muck about with generals) also it will be hard to cheat with my gums are healing - I won't even be having my bars for the first 4-5 days as I won't want to chew anything.

The other thing is that I could actually start management this sunday if I wanted to, but there's no point if food packs would actually be wiser for me in the days following the op - so I'm going to stay in abstinence until I am healed enough to know that I can start management properly with no pain whilst I chew - I don't want to be reaching for icecream because my jaw hurts too much to chew salad leaves.

[In search of me]

Just a thought...my milk week knocked me out of ketosis in hours!! No food temptation (& DONT go for the italian!) and easy to get back on after 4 days! HTH? Re the wisdom teeth are you planning time off? Some are find but when I had mine out it was something of an experience in terms of the look!! Also hope you have someone around to give some TLC! Gargle with salt water too, really helps keep any infection under cntrol!

[Cerulean]

Just a thought...my milk week knocked me out of ketosis in hours!! No food temptation (& DONT go for the italian!) and easy to get back on after 4 days! HTH? Re the wisdom teeth are you planning time off? Some are find but when I had mine out it was something of an experience in terms of the look!! Also hope you have someone around to give some TLC! Gargle with salt water too, really helps keep any infection under cntrol!

Ta ISOM - I asked LL medical about this and they just can't guarantee that milk will knock me out of ketosis (apparently some people come out immediately and others can take a few days) soon enough and obviously if I wake up on the day of the op it's not like I can eat something because it's nil by mouth after midnight.

Wisdom teeth are being done through work (with one of the top chaps in London!) and he deliberately operates on a Thursday so you take 2 days off work and then have the two weekend days following to get through the worst of it (grrr - would much rather heal in work's time!) However, I have told my boss that if I look like a hamster I won't be in until I'm not embarrassed to travel

I've been told that taking extra B12 2 weeks before the op helps and if you salt gargle every day before the op that also helps!

I live alone so I shall have to sort my own TLC out. I hate the assumption doctors make that everyone has a partner or family around.

[Mrs Lard]

Hi Sarah

Hope you are staying in hospital (as it's being done through work) until you are ready to go home alone. You will feel effects of anaesthetic for a few days so be ready. Please get your arnica in! Re: Italian or no Italian, I knew you would want to stay strong!

As an aside, FP - I was amazed by your suggestion, given your tough love stance (see "BORING" thread). If that isn't enabling behaviour, I don't know what is! Unless you were being deliberately provocative and as I don't know you, I have no idea.

Goodnight everyone.

Mrs L xxx

[Cerulean]

Hi Sarah

Hope you are staying in hospital (as it's being done through work) until you are ready to go home alone. You will feel effects of anaesthetic for a few days so be ready. Please get your arnica in! Re: Italian or no Italian, I knew you would want to stay strong!

As an aside, FP - I was amazed by your suggestion, given your tough love stance (see "BORING" thread). If that isn't enabling behaviour, I don't know what is! Unless you were being deliberately provocative and as I don't know you, I have no idea.

Goodnight everyone.

Mrs L xxx

I do have a designated escort to get me home and make sure I get into bed (luckily he's a student - crazy that otherwise I would have needed to find someone who's willing to use up a day's holiday or get my mother to travel 150 miles really, isn't it?)

[Helen]

Good luck with your op! I cant advise re wisdom teeth I am afraid. However I have had one experience of eating that has taken me out of ketosis. Now it was all carbs and mostly bread and I was out of ketosis for less than a day BUT I had the most awful stomach ache for the following couple of days so I would personally say to aim to come out of ketosis gradually over a couple of days if possible to avoid feeling ill due to what you have eaten. This may just be my reaction to bread after so long and may not happen to you (and I know you didn't mention bread) but just a thought.

Also have you got your own ketostix so that you can test you are out of ketosis?

[In search of me]

No probs - think I was exceptionlly sensitive to the milk as came out of ketosis within 2 hrs! Re looking like a hamster have they told you that if teeth are impacted you can get black eyes? Dont want to scare you but ensure that you are aware - they didnt tell me when I had mine done & I looked quite impressive but it really did frighten me when I first looked in the mirror - think 2 rounds with Mike Tyson! It wasnt that painful & looked worse than it felt but just wanted you to know! Wish I lived closer & I'd pop in & give you some TLC...I really do think you should ask someone to be there for you for at least the first day though as you can feel pretty groggy. A good friend wouldnt balk at taking a day off & I'm sure you would wouldnt you eh! On lesson I have learned on this journey is that sometimes its actually lovely to let people care for you & it makes them feel good too (see blog on Tuesdays with morrie book)...a real revelation for self sufficient me! Big hugs & hope I havent alarmed you...

[Peridot]

I agree with Mrs L about arnica - start taking them in tablet form about a week before, it really makes a difference with the way your body copes with the intrusiveness of surgery. Hope all goes well - we'll all be thinking of you.

[In search of me]

just tried to post on blog but cant as it wont let me! Just wanted to say how great it is reading about the journey! Fab! (ps how can I post on blog?)