Monday, August 30, 2010

175,000 calories

I had surgery on August 3rd and the doctor successfully bypassed my bowel obstruction. The problem was mainly radiation damage to a section of small intestine, rather than a bellyful of tumors like almost every doctor assumed. In fact, he couldn't find any new tumors in my abdomen. So now I can eat again!

115 Pounds (August 2010)
I am terribly thin, though. During the months of starvation I lost about 50 pounds from my previous weight of 165 pounds. And while on intravenous feedings I barely maintained what weight I had left. So the doctor's orders are to gain those 50 pounds back.

Since it takes 3,500 calories to gain one pound*, that means I need to take in 175,000 calories above and beyond the 2,500 calories per day it takes just to maintain weight. If the doctor wrote a prescription for all those calories, it might look like one of these:

  • 650 McDonald's hamburgers
  • 1,200 Stonyfield Farms Strawberries & Cream yogurts
  • 1,500 Quaker Chewy Chocolate Chip granola bars
  • 4,400 Thin Mint cookies

It's a bit of a struggle to eat all those calories right now. With the shortened digestive system and organs that aren't used to seeing food, whatever I eat tends to pass through quite quickly. Some meals seem to exit into my colostomy pouch in just 12 hours – not much time to absorb all the calories and nutrients. And my stomach has shrunk from months of disuse, so I can't eat much at a time to begin with.

But I'm tired of looking like a skeleton, so I'm working at putting on weight – eating whatever sounds good and getting some light exercise walking and playing Wii.

24 comments:

alena said...

You're looking so much better! Glad you're on the road to healing.

Mary said...

What good news!!! Glad to get a report from you. Wonderful news that there were no new tumors found!! Sounds like you are, as usual, doing all the right things! Hang in there...I know it is sometimes much harder to gain weight than to lose it, but you are such a fighter, I am sure you will be stuffing in as many calories as you possibly can! Good luck and I hope you continue to heal.

Peter said...

Glad to hear your news Rick! I was just researching data on weight gain--surprisingly little on it on Pubmed. I did find GOMAD: Gallon of Milk A Day diet
/

Essentially it involves drinking a gallon of whole milk per day + weight training. Claim is ~25 lb gain in 25 days. This sounds crazy fast, but lots of testimonials suggesting it does work well.

alena said...

How are you? Just stopping by to say I'm thinking of you. Hope you are continuing to heal.

Rick Wagner said...

Still having a rough timing eating enough. Lately the problem has been cramps for a few hours each day. I tend to get one good meal in and then have to skip or go light for the other two. So no weight gain so far. Otherwise things are pretty stable.

Anonymous said...

Hello there!
Very interesting blog (read it all in one afternoon)
How are you now? Hope better!

hugs

carry on, you're doing great :)

alena said...

How are you? Just checking in... hope you're well.

sacramento car donation said...

Thanks God your getting better now. I will be praying for your fast recovery. Just stay strong and have faith to HIM.

Mary Moore said...

Contining to think about you and pray for you! Hoping you are feeling better. Let us hear...
Blessings...

Carla said...

I hope you are okay. We haven't seen any new posts from you on this blog in a long time. My mother recently died from cancer, and now I have bladder cancer. I am wondering if it is worth so much pain and struggle and suffering, if I am only going to live a few years after all the surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy. I have a lot of decisions to make very soon. I wonder how long I will live if I just do the palliative care route-- just pain medicine, and no surgery, no radiation, and maybe just some chemotherapy to slow it down a bit?

Anonymous said...

I had followed this blog when a cousin had cancer. Rick was so open about sharing his experience - it was a huge help for us. After this long period with no posts, I searched on his name and found that he passed away last week.

The stars in heaven shine a little brighter tonight. Thanks for sharing your story - your life made a difference to many here.

Anonymous said...

Rick passed away peacefully on Friday, July 29. His parents were holding his hands. I know it was important for him to share his experiences along this 7-year journey, and seek advice of others. I hope you continue to live passionate and full lives.
His sister, Terri
http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Richard-Wagner&lc=7224&pid=152817329&mid=4761483&locale=en-US

Anonymous said...

Dear Rick, I was reading your blog and found it incredibly honest and insightful. I wanted to write and see how you are doing---

Anonymous said...

Just read that Rick had passed away. Though I only discovered his writings today, i felt such a beautiful, honest, open spirit coming across the internet. I'm so sorry to hear of Rick's passing and I offer thanks to his loved ones for keeping his writing and his images alive. I wish you the best- thank you.

Salvo Di Grazia said...

Thank you Rick.
Rest in peace.

ranger said...

Hi Rick, you are one tough guy. I like your picture; when I had an ostomy bag I never had that kind of honest courage.

peanut butter is really good for weight gain. PB and honey. nice.

thanks for blogging, and good luck with your health.

ranger

ranger said...

i'm sorry i just read that Rick passed away. sorry to leave a comment of encouragement. I guess that Rick lived this morning; he was alive for me till I read all the comments. May his family find peace. so sorry,, yrs
ranger

Cameron VSJ said...

Hi,

I have a quick question about your blog. Could you email me when you get a chance?

Cameron

Faizal Khan said...

Your Informations are lit af
Thank You very much for your informational blog about this. I was looking for a blog just like yours, Hope will get more knowledge from you in future.

Buy Alphabolin online | buy belsomra 10mg online | Buy equipoise online

Buy Alphabolin online with Alphabolin, Hydrocodone, Vimax, provironum, Green Xanax Bar, trenbolone-75, equipoise, Ketamine, Viagra 50mg, Belsomra

Click here for more information:- Maximschemical Shop


Buy equipoise online, Buy Adderall online, Buy Codeine 15mg online, Buy Carfentanil online, Buy letromina online, Buy Percocet online, Buy masteron 100 online, Buy promifen online, Buy trenbolone-75 online, Buy oxydrolone online, Belsomra 10mg, Buy Butylone online, Buy Viagra 50mg Online, sustanon 350, Buy Staxyn 10mg online, Buy Codeine 15mg online, Buy Ketamine Online, Alprazolam Powder, Buy rexogin online, Buy Roxicodone online, Buy turinabol 10 online, Buy Alphabolin online, Buy provironum online, Buy Green Xanax Bar online, Buy Hydrocodone online


Address: Miami, Florida

Email: info@maximschemicalshop.com

Call / Text: +1 (813) 364-4067

Buyoxycodoneonline said...

Hydrocodone is a narcotic torment prescription.

Zohydro ER and Hysingla ER are expanded discharge types of hydrocodone that are utilized for nonstop treatment of serious torment.Buy hydrocodone online

Broadened discharge hydrocodone isn't for use on an as-required reason for agony.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

buy tramaold online
where can i buy oxycodone online
Order norco online
buy hydrocodone online without prescription
Buy Levitra online
buy percocet 10mg online

Evaaide said...

Hi there,
Thank you so much for the post you do and also I like your post, we are providing best medical items like Andriol Testocaps for sale online, you can visit our website and get more details.
Click here for MORE DETAILS......

We care your meds said...


We have the best medicines you can ever find online you can check our shop for other products
online xanthan gum
online xanax bars
xanax dosages
Buy oxycodone online
Online buy oxycodone
Where can i buy oxycodone online
Best place to buy oxycodone online
Oxycodone
Buy Modafinil online
online modafinil
Best place to buy Modafinil online
where can I buy modafinil

Anonymous said...

This is enough to make anyone happy. Because this makes our mind fresh. I feel happy to come to here.

mr jhonson said...

You make a bigger impact on our mind. Because i am shocked to see your website. It is really awesome. I love to come here again and again.