So I was at a big fundraising event for my company and super busy. I barely had time to run to the restroom quickly. I ran in and pulled my pants down. Then it dawned on me that these pants were zippered and had two buttons on it. I almost threw them out a few months ago because they were so tight. Now I could pull them down without undoing anything! YAY ME!  I was laughing in the stall when a co-walker walked in and asked what was up. When I told her what just happened, she laughed and told me my pants were too big! YAY!

Down 38 pounds and not at my one month surgiversary yet. Feeling good!!! 

YAY! To say I'm thrilled would be an understatement. This entire WLS journey began when the doctors couldn't get my blood pressure under control with med. I was 43 and already on 3 different medications for hypertension. Being that even when I was taking the pills my blood pressure was out of control, I started feeling like I was losing this battle. I started looking around at different options. The best option was weight loss surgery. 

Today, my decision was confirmed when I went to a post op appointment with my primary care doctor. First of all, he wasn't aware that I had already had the surgery. When he saw me, his face lit up. He said he could tell I had already dropped a lot of weight (35 pounds!) Then when he looked at my numbers, he was amazed, but concerned. He actually went out at got the blood pressure cuff to check for himself...TWICE! I'm no longer on meds! My blood pressure is normal! I was so excited when he told me. I told him I wanted to skip home!

Thrilled to see results like this so soon. Definitely worth all the pain!
 

I can finally say I woke up feeling somewhat decent. This surgery has taken a lot more out of me than expected. I like to consider myself a well educated and sensible person. I thought I was prepared for the surgery, but as soon as I woke up in my room after the surgery, I realized I hadn't had a clue!

The first day was a blur. I had the surgery at 8:30 in the morning and recall very little until about 2 p.m. in the afternoon. Nurses and staff came in to introduce themselves to me. I was giving instructions and asked a lot of questions. I thought that if I just kept my eyes closed it would all go away! For all the excitement, I was disappointed to wake up feeling so totally nauseated. Any movement was precarious. I thought I was definitely going to vomit each time my mouth would water up, but luckily for me it didn't happen. My mouth was dry and I was having my very own pity party. I didn't answer any of the phone calls that kept coming or any of the emails and texts that people were sending with well wishes. I had actually told several peole that I'd call them by 2 p.m. that day because I had a "high tolerance" and was certain I'd whip this easily. HAH!  A greater fool there never was!

I finally got out of bed to walk about 7 p.m. that night only with the love of my sons' encouragement. I had tried earlier to walk, but just getting to the bathroom was a major accomplishment. But with my sons help, I was able to walk the halways a bit. It just about wiped me out. I later walked easily by myself. 

The pain was minimal. I had heard several people talk about different type of pain, but I really didn't notice notice any discomfort other than the nausea. Nausea...oh goodness...that's another story all together. I've had 4 kids with difficult high risk pregnancies. I KNOW nausea. I also have had pretty bad "stomach" hangovers. The situation after surgery was like the worst hangover ever! I couldn't even turn on the tv or hear anyone talk about food. The though of food made my stomach churn. When they brought meals in for the other patients, I started gagging. It was awful. I still have it at day 5, but it's eased up substantially. 

I struggled with getting anything down at first. After a talk with my surgeon's nurse, she said even though I'm not having physical pain I needed to continue taking the pain meds until I could get more liquids in. It's helped substantially, but I'm thinking I'll try regular tylenol today instead of the prescription stuff. 

Not doing well on the protien drinks. The thought of them makes me more nauseated. They are just nasty. I liked them enough during the pre-surgery diet for a week, but I can't even get down two sips of the shakes or even the soup now. I might venture out today to purchase another type. I feel like I have this ongoing sweet aftertaste in my mouth all the time now. 

So with all that said and done, I'm down 31.6 pounds as of today with 8.6 being the weight lost in the past 5 days. I'm happy about those results. So when I'm feeling discouraged, a hop on the scale is picking me up quickly. I can definitely see a difference in my face and in my clothes. 

Moving forward with hope!!!!

Why did I choose the 4th of July to start a liquid diet?!?!?! What was I thinking? Was I thinking? Oh this is going to be a challenge. 

The 4th of July in my hometown is always very predictible. Every year we go to the little parade through the town with all the neighbors getting together along the street and soaking up the sun. We walk down to the end of the parade where they're usually handing out cold watermelon. Then we walk down to the beach and play all day. When the sun goes down, we barbeque hot dogs before heading down to the beach again to watch the fireworks. Seems like we've done this every year since I was a kid. This year will be different!

I look into my fridge and see a shelf with various flavors of protein shakes, lean drinks, Isopure, powdered soups and drinks. Not quite the cold watermelon I am used to, but instead evidence of a choice to change. Yes, my choice to change. My choice to be healthier. I can do this!

Day 1! Bring it on! 

I'm so excited. I've just finalized everything for the surgery. Insurance has been approved. Prepayment to hospital has been paid. I attended my pre-surgery informational class. Now all I have to do is wait for July 11th. 

Between now and then, I have a lot to do. I'm going on a cruise vacation which was planned long before the VSG. It seems fitting now though. It's the last hurrah so to speak. I get home on July 1 and begin my liquid protein diet on July 4th. I find it amusing that I'm really beginning this journey to my own indepence on the Fourth of July - INDEPENDENCE DAY!  

I haven't posted much on OH, but believe me, I've been in here daily reading about all of the ups and downs of real people going through the same thing as me. It's such a help to read about it from people like me. 

And the journey begins...