be healthy, be active and maintain my new lifestyle!

I have been struggling with what to eat and what not. I am trying not to play then numbers game with myself (or others). People are asking me how much I've lost and I really feel like my progress is based moreso on my health. I really do feel good. I have been lifting weights and walking about 2 miles each time out and that feels good.

It's time now to push myself because I had't before this. I will be 7 weeks out on tomorrow. I plan on keeping a running tally of my weight loss (for reflections sake) and my inches lost (for my sanity).

Also, I have found this list of items to eat that would help me along the way.


This was taken from a friend's profile:

cottage cheese with
black beans

string cheese

lettuce (50/50 min...high in iron)with
broiled steak
dried fruit
feta cheese
almonds (soooo good for you)
crushed blue corn tortialla chips

bush's chili...in a glass jar with
sharp cheddar
tostitos

reduced fat cheese nips

soy crisps (apple cinnamin...above the meats at ACME)

perdue short cuts on
low carb wrap with a
fat free single
spicy brown mustard

trader joes turkey meatballs
flax seed noodles (high in protein)

trader joes california rolls

dannon light and fit yogurt (freeze it and eat it like a popsicle)

no sugar added creamsicles
no sugar added edy's slow churned cookies n cream ice cream

blue berries...freeze em and they last for months (pop a fre as a frozen treat)

bananas and natural peanut butter

white peaches

grapes

hummus on ripped tortilla

steamed broccoli (steam a whole bunch and put it in little containers)

whole carrrots...unpeeled

bagel chips (cinnamin raisin...mmm)

goldfish

no sugar added applesauce

ENJOY!
 

I am cruising.


I have had no issues to speak of (hallelu) and I really can't believe it.
I have been told that my face is smaller at 2 weeks and now, at 5 weeks, people see the difference in my body. Weird thing is, I can feel that difference. I touch myself a lot, and I feel more wiggly than before.

I have been walking a lot, but I want to add some weight training in the mix. I will acquire a weight toning routine here pretty soon so that I can see progression. But right now, I will do Fit Tv at home for toning and calistenics.

I am back at work, and have been for about 2 weeks now. Everything has gone well. I even went out to work with some co-workers recently. One of them in particular mentioned to the other that I "must not have had surgery because she ate all her food!" Um, no I didn't. I do, however, thank God that I am able to tolerate everything that I eat so far.

I ordered Chicken Chimichanga. It came with beans, shredded cheese, guacamole, and sour cream, lettuce and tomato. Well, I just gutted the chicken from the chimi and mixed my beans and chese and other protein items and ate that! Maybe it looked like I finished my meal to her. People are funny. I wish she would come right out and ask me why I was out of work for three weeks.

I am fitting into size 20 jeans now, but they are a lil snug around the belly. Before, like 3 weeks ago I was in a 24, loosely. I don't know if a brand new 20 would fit me or not, but we'll see. As everything that I wear is getting to be larger and larger. It's fun, but kind of daunting considering that I was out of work for 3 weeks and about 1.5 of that was 60% income. I am having to save like crazy to make ends meet. I am sure I will catch up by end of November, it wasn't that bad.

My boyfriend, Red and I have a weddin to attend on the 26th (Sunday) and I am a bit nervous about the dress that I am wearing. I guess it will fit, I haven't worn it in ages (like to my best friend's wedding in 03/07 and it was a bit snug then! So we'll see how that works out. SPANX to the rescue! LOL

I haven't made a youtube video in a while, maybe I will do that here soon too. I need to get on top of my WLS journey game. I am going to a meet and greet for youtubers in November too. That should be fun! I get to meet some of the folks who inspired me before my journey began, hell and even now!

Anyway, thanks for reading. I will check back soon.

xoxo

List of High Protein Foods

Description	Weight Grams	Weight Ounces	Protein Grams
Duck, domesticated, meat only, cooked, roasted	221	1/2 duck	51.89
Chicken, stewing, meat only, cooked, stewed	140	1 cup	42.59
Fish, halibut, Atlantic and Pacific, cooked, dry heat	159	1/2 fillet	42.44
Fish, salmon, sockeye, cooked, dry heat	155	1/2 fillet	42.33
Turkey, meat only, cooked, roasted	140	1 cup	41.05
Turkey, neck, meat only, cooked, simmered	152	1 neck	40.80
Chicken, broilers or fryers, giblets, cooked, simmered	145	1 cup	39.37
Fish, haddock, cooked, dry heat	150	1 fillet	36.36
Fish, rockfish, Pacific, mixed species, cooked, dry heat	149	1 fillet	35.82
Chicken, broilers, fryers, breast, meat and skin	140	1/2 breast	34.78
Fast foods, hamburger, large, double patty	226	1 sandwich	34.28
Fish, tuna salad	205	1 cup	32.88
Cheeseburger, large, single meat patty, with bacon	195	1 sandwich	32.00
Fast foods, hamburger, regular, double patty	215	1 sandwich	31.82
Fast foods, taco	263	1 large	31.77
Chicken, broilers or fryers, breast, meat and skin	98	1/2 breast	31.20
Cheese, cottage, lowfat, 2% milkfat	226	1 cup	31.05
Chicken, canned, meat only, with broth	142	5 oz	30.91
Veal, leg (top round), separable lean and fat	85	3 oz	30.74
Fish, flatfish (flounder and sole species)	127	1 fillet	30.68
Turkey, all classes, giblets, cooked, simmered	145	1 cup	30.29
Lamb, domestic, shoulder, arm, separable lean only	85	3 oz	30.21
Fast foods, submarine sandwich, with tuna salad	256	1sandwich,6"roll	29.70
Fast foods, submarine sandwich, with roast beef	216	1sandwich,6"roll	28.64
Soybeans, mature cooked, boiled, without salt	172	1 cup	28.62
Fast foods, cheeseburger, large, single patty	219	1 sandwich	28.19
Cheese, ricotta, part skim milk	246	1 cup	28.02
Cheese, cottage, lowfat, 1% milkfat	226	1 cup	28.00
Crustaceans, crab, blue, canned	135	1 cup	27.70
Cheese, ricotta, whole milk	246	1 cup	27.70
Fast foods, cheeseburger, regular, double patty, plain	155	1 sandwich	27.67
Chicken, broilers or fryers, light meat, meat only	84	3 oz	27.57
Pork, fresh, shoulder, arm picnic, separable lean only	85	3 oz	27.42
Pork, fresh, loin, center loin, bone-in, separable lean	85	3 oz	27.35
Fish, swordfish, cooked, dry heat	106	1 piece	26.91
Beef, round, bottom round, separable lean only	85	3 oz	26.85
Chicken, broilers or fryers, breast, meat only	86	1/2 breast	26.68
Beef, chuck, blade roast, separable lean only	85	3 oz	26.40
Cheese, cottage, creamed, large or small curd	210	1 cup	26.23
Sandwiches and hamburger, large, single meat patty	218	1 sandwich	25.83
Lamb, shoulder, arm, separable lean and fat, 1/4" fat, choice, cooked, braised	85	3 oz	25.83
Beef, top sirloin, separable lean only, 1/4" fat, all grades,cooked, broiled	85	85	25.81
Pork, fresh, loin, center loin (chops), bone-in, separable lean only, cooked, broiled	85	3 oz	25.66
Lamb, domestic, loin, separable lean only, 1/4" fat, choice, cooked, broiled	85	3 oz
Fish, tuna, yellowfin, fresh, cooked, dry heat	85	3 oz	25.47
Pork, fresh, loin, center loin (chops), bone-in, separable lean and fat, cooked, pan-fried	85	3 oz	25.42
Turkey, all classes, light meat, cooked, roasted	84	3 oz	25.12
Cheese sauce, prepared from recipe	243	1 cup	25.10
Cheese, cottage, nonfat, uncreamed, dry, large or small curd	145	1 cup	25.04
Pork, fresh, leg (ham), whole, separable lean only, cooked, roasted	85	3 oz	25.00
Fish, tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids	85.05	3 oz	24.78
Beef, round, eye of round, separable lean only, 1/4" fat, all grades, cooked, roasted	85	3 oz	24.64
Fast foods, chili con carne	253	1 cup	24.62
Pork, fresh, loin, center rib (roasts), bone-in, separable lean only, cooked, roasted	85	3 oz	24.41
Pork, fresh, loin, center loin (chops), bone-in, separable lean and fat, cooked, broiled	85	3 oz	24.40
Chicken, broilers or fryers, dark meat, meat only, cooked, fried	84		24.35
Milk, canned, condensed, sweetened	306	1 cup	24.20
Cheese, cottage, creamed, with fruit	226	1 cup	24.16
Fast foods, chicken fillet sandwich, plain	182	1 sandwich	24.12
Lamb, domestic, leg, whole (shank and sirloin), separable lean only, 1/4" fat, choice, cooked, roasted	85	3 oz	24.06
Turkey, all classes, dark meat, cooked, roasted	84	3 oz	24.00
Pork, fresh, shoulder, arm picnic, separable lean and fat, cooked, braised	85	3 oz	23.79
Beef, top sirloin, separable lean and fat, trimmed to 1/4" fat, all grades, cooked, broiled	85	3 oz	23.64
Pork, fresh, loin, center rib (roasts), bone-in, separable lean and fat, cooked, roasted	85	3 oz	23.32
Fish, salmon, sockeye, cooked, dry heat	85	3 oz	23.21
Beef, rib, whole (ribs 6-12), separable lean only, trimmed to 1/4" fat, all grades, cooked, roasted	85	3 oz	23.16
Beef, cured, corned beef, canned	85.05	3 oz	23.05
Pork, fresh, leg (ham), whole, separable lean and fat, cooked, roasted	85	3 oz	22.81
Beef, round, eye of round, separable lean and fat, trimmed to 1/4" fat, all grades, cooked, roasted	85	3 oz	22.77
Fish, halibut, Atlantic and Pacific, cooked, dry heat	85	3 oz	22.69
Beef, chuck, blade roast, separable lean and fat, trimmed to 1/4" fat, all grades, cooked, braised	85	3 oz	22.58
Beef, variety meats and byproducts, liver, cooked, pan-fried	85	3 oz	22.54
Poultry food products, ground turkey, cooked	82	1 patty	22.44
Lamb, domestic, rib, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/4" fat, choice, cooked, roasted	85	3 oz	22.24
Soybeans, green, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt	180	1 cup	22.23
WORTHINGTON FOODS, MORNINGSTAR FARMS "Burger"Crumbles	110	1 cup	22.15
Fast foods, cheeseburger, regular, double patty and bun, plain	160	1 sandwich	22.13
Couscous, dry	173	1 cup	22.07
Beef, ground, 85% lean meat / 15% fat, patty, cooked, broiled	85	3 oz	22.04
Beef, ground, 80% lean meat / 20% fat, patty, cooked, broiled	85	3 oz	21.89
Fast foods, submarine sandwich, with cold cuts	228	1sandwich-6" roll	21.84
Beef, ground, 75% lean meat / 25% fat, patty, cooked, broiled	85	3 oz	21.73
Mollusks, clam, mixed species, canned, drained solids	85	3 oz	21.72
Lamb, domestic, leg, whole (shank and sirloin), separable lean and fat, trimmed to 1/4" fat, choice, cooked, roasted	85	3 oz	21.72
Fish, tuna, light, canned in water, drained solids	85	3 oz	21.68
Fast foods, roast beef sandwich, plain	139	1 sandwich	21.50
Lamb, domestic, loin, separable lean and fat, trimmed to 1/4" fat, choice, cooked, broiled	85	3 oz	21.39
Pork, cured, ham, whole, separable lean only, roasted	85	3 oz	21.29
Fast foods, cheeseburger, regular, double patty, with condiments and vegetables	166	1 sandwich	21.25
Fish, sardine, Atlantic, canned in oil, drained solids with bone	85.05	3 oz	20.94
Snacks, trail mix, regular, with chocolate chips, salted nuts and seeds	146	1 cup	20.73
Fast foods, taco	171	1 small	20.66
Fish, trout, rainbow, farmed, cooked, dry heat	85	3 oz	20.63
Pork, fresh, backribs, separable lean and fat, cooked, roasted	85	3 oz	20.62
Fast foods, fish sandwich, with tartar sauce and cheese	183	1 sandwich	20.61
Fish, haddock, cooked, dry heat	85	3 oz	20.60
Fish, flatfish (flounder and sole species), cooked, dry heat	85	3 oz	20.54
Fish, rockfish, Pacific, mixed species, cooked, dry heat	85	3 oz	20.43
Veal, rib, separable lean and fat, cooked, roasted	85	3 oz	20.37
Fish, ocean perch, Atlantic, cooked, dry heat	85	3 oz	20.30
Pork, fresh, loin, country-style ribs, separable lean and fat, cooked, braised	85	3 oz	20.29
Chili con carne with beans, canned entree	222	1 cup	20.18
Fish, tuna, white, canned in water, drained solids	85	3 oz	20.08
Fish, pollock, walleye, cooked, dry heat	85	3 oz	19.98
Barley, pearled, raw	200	1 cup	19.82
Crustaceans, shrimp, mixed species, canned	85.05	3 oz	19.63
Fast foods, chimichanga, with beef	174	1 chimichanga	19.61
Fish, cod, Pacific, cooked, dry heat	85	3 oz	19.51
Fish, cod, Atlantic, canned, solids and liquid	85	3 oz	19.35
Milk, canned, evaporated, nonfat	256	1 cup	19.33
Breakfast items, biscuit with egg and sausage	180	1 biscuit	19.15
Beef, rib, whole (ribs 6-12), separable lean and fat, trimmed to 1/4" fat, all grades, cooked, roasted	85	3 oz	19.13
Beans, white, mature seeds, canned	262	1 cup	19.02
Fast foods, shrimp, breaded and fried	164	6-8 shrimp	18.88
Chicken, broilers or fryers, thigh, meat and skin, cooked, fried, batter	86	1 thigh	18.58
Pork, cured, ham, whole, separable lean and fat, roasted	85	3 oz	18.33
Crustaceans, shrimp, mixed species, cooked, breaded and fried	85	3 oz	18.18
Turkey roast, boneless, frozen, seasoned, light and dark meat, roasted	85.05	3 oz	18.13
Fast foods, chicken, breaded and fried, boneless pieces, plain	106	6 pieces	18.02
Lamb, domestic, rib, separable lean and fat, trimmed to 1/4" fat, choice, cooked, roasted	85	3 oz	17.95
Lentils, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt	198	1 cup	17.86
Pork, cured, ham, extra lean and regular, canned, roasted	85	3 oz	17.80
Beans, baked, canned, with franks	259	1 cup	17.48
Fast foods, salad, vegetable, tossed, without dressing, with chicken	218	1-1/2 cups	17.44
Crustaceans, lobster, northern, cooked, moist heat	85	3 oz	17.43
Snacks, pork skins, plain	28.35	1 oz	17.38
Bulgur, dry	140	1 cup	17.21
Crustaceans, crab, blue, cooked, moist heat	85	3 oz	17.17
Milk, canned, evaporated, without added vitamin A	252	1 cup	17.16
Bread crumbs, dry, grated, seasoned	120	1 cup	17.04
Fish, salmon, pink, canned, solids with bone and liquid	85	3 oz	16.81
Mollusks, scallop, mixed species, cooked, breaded and fried	93	6 large	16.81
Fast foods, hot-dog, with corn flour coating (corndog)	175	1 corn dog	16.80
Fast foods, english muffin, with egg, cheese, and canadian bacon	137	1 muffin	16.69
Crustaceans, crab, alaska king, cooked, moist heat	85	3 oz	16.45
Wheat flour, whole-grain	120	1 cup	16.44
Wheat flour, white, bread, enriched	137	1 cup	16.41
Peas, split, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt	196	1 cup	16.35
Oat bran, raw	94	1 cup	16.26
Fast foods, croissant, with egg, cheese, and bacon	129	1 croissant	16.23
Fast foods, tostada, with beans, beef, and cheese	225	1 tostada	16.09
Fish, roughy, orange, cooked, dry heat	85	3 oz	16.02
Fast foods, cheeseburger, regular, single patty, with condiments	113	1 sandwich	15.96
Beans, navy, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt	182	1 cup	15.83
Chicken, broilers or fryers, drumstick, meat and skin, cooked, fried, batter	72	1 drumstick	15.80
Beans, pinto, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt	171	1 cup	15.60
Fish, salmon, chinook, smoked	85.05	3 oz	15.55
Fish, catfish, channel, cooked, breaded and fried	85	3 oz	15.38
Beans, kidney, red, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt	177	1 cup	15.35
Beans, black, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt	172	1 cup	15.24
Buckwheat flour, whole-groat	120	1 cup	15.14
Sandwiches and burgers, cheeseburger, regular, single meat patty, plain	102	1 sandwich	14.77
Beans, great northern, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt	177	1 cup	14.74
Lima beans, large, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt	188	1 cup	14.66
Chickpeas (garbanzo beans, bengal gram), mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt	164	1 cup	14.53
Cowpeas (blackeyes), immature seeds, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt		1 cup	14.43
Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce, frozen entree	283	1 package	14.29
Beef Macaroni, frozen entree	240	1 package	14.14
Fish, pollock, walleye, cooked, dry heat	60	1 fillet	14.11
WORTHINGTON FOODS, MORNINGSTAR FARMS BETTER'NBURGERS, frozen	85	1 patty	13.91
Refried beans, canned	252	1 cup	13.83
Fast foods, hotdog, with chili	114	1 sandwich	13.51
Chicken, broilers or fryers, thigh, meat only, cooked, roasted	52	1 thigh	13.49
Beans, kidney, red, mature seeds, canned	256	1 cup	13.44
Beans, baked, canned, with pork and sweet sauce	253	1 cup	13.44
Entrees, fish fillet, battered or breaded, and fried	91	1 fillet	13.34
Cowpeas, common (blackeyes, crowder, southern), mature seeds,	172	1 cup	13.30
Fast foods, taco salad	198	1-1/2 cups	13.23
Chicken, broilers or fryers, drumstick, meat and skin, cooked, fried,	49	1 drumstick	13.21
Rice, white, long-grain, regular, raw, enriched	185	1 cup	13.19
Beans, baked, canned, with pork and tomato sauce	253	1 cup	13.05
Chicken pot pie, frozen entree	217	1 small pie	13.04
Entrees, pizza with cheese, meat, and vegetables	79	1 slice	13.01
Yogurt, plain, skim milk, 13 grams protein per 8 ounce	227	8-oz container	13.01
Wheat flour, white, all-purpose, enriched, bleached	125	1 cup	12.91
Fast foods, clams, breaded and fried	115	3/4 cup	12.82
Soup, chicken noodle, canned, chunky, ready-to-serve	240	1 cup	12.72
Soup, bean with ham, canned, chunky, ready-to-serve, commercial	243	1 cup	12.61
Rice, white, long-grain, parboiled, enriched, dry	185	1 cup	12.56
Chicken, broilers or fryers, drumstick, meat only, cooked, roasted	44	1 drumstick	12.45
Potatoes, au gratin, home-prepared from recipe using butter	245	1 cup	12.40
Wheat flour, white, all-purpose, self-rising, enriched	125	1 cup	12.36
Fast foods, hamburger, regular, single patty, with condiments	106	1 sandwich	12.32
Soup, chicken vegetable, canned, chunky, ready-to-serve	240	1 cup	12.31
Beans, baked, canned, plain or vegetarian	254	1 cup	12.17
Crustaceans, crab, blue, crab cakes	60	1 cake	12.13
Milk shakes, thick vanilla	313	11 fl oz	12.08
Fish, herring, Atlantic, pickled	85.05	3 oz	12.07
Lima beans, immature seeds, frozen, baby, cooked, boiled, drained,	180	1 cup	11.97
Fish, ocean perch, Atlantic, cooked, dry heat	50	1 fillet	11.94
Yogurt, plain, low fat, 12 grams protein per 8 ounce	227	8-oz container	11.92
Lima beans, large, mature seeds, canned	241	1 cup	11.88
Chickpeas (garbanzo beans, Bengal gram), mature seeds, canned	240	1 cup	11.88
Cornmeal, degermed, enriched, yellow	138	1 cup	11.70
Shake, fast food, vanilla	333	16 fl oz	11.66
Cornmeal, self-rising, degermed, enriched, yellow	138	1 cup	11.61
Pie crust, standard-type, prepared from recipe, baked	180	1 pie shell	11.52
Beef stew, canned entree	232	1 cup	11.46

Protein, Carbohydrate, Fat - Food Exchange List

Source: Based on American Dietetic Association Exchange List

Within each group, these foods can be exchanged for each other. You can use this list to give yourself more choices

Wow.

I can't believe that I have actually typed the words "post-op" and it applied to me! STFU!

*sighs*

I am so doing well. I wish I could slow down enough to tell you about my post op experience right at the week mark, because you know I am anal and all... but today is exactly 1 week and 2 days post op. Now let's see if I can give you the play by play.

Ok, so we've heard about my sadistic bowel prep from hell, right. Well, that night I was in so much pain from my butt being literally raw that I almost didn't go through with it becuase I had convinced myself that it was a sign from God not to do it. So I layed across my bed, said a prayer and asked if I wasn't supposed to go foward to show me in plain sight. I slept for about 20 mins, still laid in bed in a calm state of panic waiting for 5:30am to arrive so that my loving boyfriend could come pick up me,  my mom and aunt to drive up to the hospital which is like literally 1.3 miles from my condos. Crazy, right?

So morning falls, I go pee. No burning, I wipe, no burning. I say a prayer to God thanking him for this relief and put my clothes on to leave. I take one last photo and get in the car. I sign up for surgery, they have me wait for a few mintues. I am sitting quietly with my family and they call me back. A woman approaches and asks me for my name and birthday. Sits me down in a makeshift waiting area separated by a curtain. She gives me a gown, and asks me to remove all my clothing and sit on the bed. I do. A few moments later another woman comes in talking about how she isn't going to let anyone steal her joy because some people at work don't deserve her energy. Um... ok... She takes my blood, and sets me up for an IV. I ask her for some good drugs, just like the Anestheologist promised me, she said that she needs to get more information from me first... BOOO!  I am still zen.

I go pee before she put the IV in and when I wipe, there is NO pain! I am amazed by God's grace. I walk back to the 'room' and see my reflection. I look a mess! For a split second I panic and say to myself, "wow, this could be how you look buried' and quickly push that thought out of my head, ask for forgivness for losing faith in that moment.

When I come back, I get hooked up to a machine and she askes my family to come in. We laugh and talk. My sister looks very nervous, but she smiles anyway. I smile at her, and tell her she looks pretty. My boyfriend is quietly freaking out, but the average person wouldn't be able to tell it. My mother and aunt are being stoic, and I am so proud of my mother, she has really been my greatest fear in all of this. She is so much stronger than I realized. I love her.


I take a few pictures with them. The mood lightens slightly, and we're talking and laughing. Then a very handsome black man walks in and intorduces himself as Andre, eyes my sister, and I smile. He says that he is going to take care of me and asks me to identify myself again. I do, and we wheel off to the 2nd floor (or was it the 4th). In the eleveator we're making small talk, I introduce Andre to my sister and mention that she is single, he says that he is too and smiles. LOL This was fun for me. My boyfriend is by my side when we get off hte elevator, it was suddenly time for me to be wheeled into the operating room.

THAT FAST?! But damn we just GOT HERE!!!

I hug them all and say I love them (except for some reason to my boyfriend, but that is because in my twisted mind he would fare worse if something happened to me and that was my last words to him, call me crazy.) I didn't at the time though, realize that was the last time I would see them as a pre-op. That settles in when I am wheeled into this room where there a group of medical professionals standing staring at a wall that I cannot see becuase I am facing them. Andre took my glasses and gave them to my family so I couldn't see a whole lot too far away. An Asian woman who had a very heavy accent came over to me and asked me to identify myself, and after I did, she said what I feared... she was my anestheologist. Now, hear me out... Don't get me wrong, the only reason why I had any fear was because she spoke such broken English that I was like, what if she miscommunicates something to the doctor and blah, blah, blah... then quickly remember math is universal! I dunno. I am crazy!!! LOL

She also introduces her assistant, who is a American and very upbeat. She says to me, "wow, you're very tall, did you play sports in school" I quickly retort, "oh yes, I was the captain of my chess team". They both belted out laughs. My mood lightened. I asked them for something to calm me down, though my nerves were not showing, I was on EDGE, it is more becuase I couldn't see much of anything and it was all moving so quickly. She asian lady told her that it was ok to give me something or another and I thanked her. She asked me what I was in for and I told her "biliopancreactic diversion with duodenal switch" and she said, oh... gastric bypass, and I said, sure, kinda. :)

Dr. Maynard came in all calm and professional. He asked me how I was, I said I am good. He extended his hand and I told him that I totally needed a hug. He obliged. Told me to relax and sauntered over to the wall where all the medical professionals were staring at the wall on the same side as me that I could not see. He was speaking to a gentleman about something or another and walked out of the room, I am assuming to put on his surgical hat and get to slicing! LOL

Recovery

This is a blur to me. I remember waking up and asking Dr. Maynard if everything went ok, and he said over his shoulder that all went well. He was walking away. I can't remember much else after that. Turns out he went out to speak with my family almost immediately after the surgery. Apparently it took about 5 hours to do my surgery. Because although there was no complications, it seems that I was "oozing" a lot. I am not sure why unless those multi vitamin packs I was taking had some herbal content to them or not. But I did ask my docs if there something I should avoid taking before surgery and they said to keep taking my multi's. I dunno though, I was compliant the whole way through so I dunno what that was about! Humph...

Hospital Room

I woke up in my room, from what felt like a good nap that ended too soon. I saw my boyfriend first, standing and smiling at me. My mom, and my aunt, my friend Michelle, my sister, and then my neice... and then a surge or nausea swept over me, I saw my neice was eating fried chicken. I told her to get the heck outta my room with that crap, it was killing me! YUCK!

The next thing I remember is gagging and dry heaving into a cup that my mother placed underneath my nose. I coughed up spit and blood. The heave like that with stiches was the worst thing you could EVER want to do. I was so pissy about that feeling. There was this one nurse who came in and asked me if I was ready to get up to walk. I was but  my body didn't agree after that chicken incident. So I asked her for five minutes. Well this other nurse, Pat came in and said she was having NONE of that. I would get up to walk regardless of how naseated I was. I looked at her and said, whatever. I just needed about 10 seconds to recover becuase it was painful to keep trying to vomit. I just needed to take some deep breaths. The machine on the side of my bed was going off profusely because they said I wasn't breathing enough. What? My stomach is about to implode from dry heaving and you want me to breath deeply. Yeah ok.

They began tugging and pulling me to get up. I was in the process of asking my mother to leave the room so I could properly cuss their asses out but all I could get out between dry heaves was, "mom, please... " and she came close to rub my back... when I was trying to say, "mom, please leave the room so I can say what I need to say to these BITCHES!" LMAO

I knew I was going to be a walking fool becuase blood clots scare the ish outta me. But those broads were not letting me gather my bearings. They forced me on my feet so any heaving I did after that, I prayed for vomit to come so I could direct it onto that one nurse from hell's feet! No such luck. When they went to get a wheelchair in case I fell from walking, it gave me time to time to rest and recover. Yes, that was the effing 10 to 15 seconds that I was asking for to recover. By the time they got back, I got up and walked about 10 steps. I tried to walk more but they wouldn't let me. THAT pissed me off. I was not tired, and I was ready to get moving but they said to get some rest. I AM NOT TIRED! I hated that one lady man.

The dreaded ng tube down my throat. It wasn't bad until I laid down about 2 days into my stay and felt it stab me in the chest. UGH! They wouldn't give me ice chips either. I had the driest mouth.  I walked a LOT in the hosptial. It wasn't hard for me at all.

One night a nurse came in and asked me if she had given me my blood thinner shot yet. I looked at her horried. She said, she hadnt and shot me in the arm. After that I didn't sleep much AT ALL really. That is why I didn't use my morhphine pump much because it made me sleepy. But best believe every 12 hours ont he clock I was making sure I got my blood thinner shot. All the nurses in the hosptial were great, like Tomeka, Mary and even the patient tech Keitha and Adrey. Then there was Patience. She was a trainwreck. She squirted some weird medicine into my feeding tube and it went all over me and the bed and my gown. I asked her if that was normal and she said, she didn't do it, that was already there! Then she stabbed me in the arm and blood squirted from my shot. I immediately asked for the charge nurse and relayed to her what had happned. She was mortified and gave me Mary, who was great!

I love the fact that my boyfriend, my friend Michelle, mom and aunt were there to support me constantly. I was never there alone for a moments time. I felt so strong and healthy and I have no one to thank but God for that.

Breathing was hard, especially after I left the oxygen tube. Boy, but those breathing treatments really helped me get the pus and blood out of my stomach through my NG tube. It was annoying but it helped.

I saw Dr. Maynard a few times and he was glad to see me walking and everything. I finally went for my leak test but that was a nightmare because I still couldn't drink or even have ice until they came back with results. ARGH!

Finally I was released to get ice!! HOLY ICE CHIPS! I LOVED them!  THen the next day they gave me clear liquids which I have been on since! AS IN STILL RIGHT NOW 1 week and 2 days post op!!! AARRRGH

Home from the hosptial

I got home on Sunday. My tummy ached a bit but I was fine. I didn't sleep much in the hospital but that didn't change either when I got home either. They gave me some hydrocodone 500 mg and I took two in hopes that it would take me to sleep. No such luck. I think it gave me insomnia. BOOOO!!!

I started getting flu like symptoms on Tuesday night or so and called the Doc. He ok'd me to take vitamin C. I didn;t have a fever, but it did make me cough and sneeze. I wanted to DIE from that abdominal pain! ARGH. I loaded up on Vit C and wrapped up good at night, trying to fight through sweating and catching chills and by Wed, I was feeling better.

Oh and of course on Monday, my aunt FLO came back... Great... she's really too early, but whatever, it's light so I can handle it. I went to see my PCP on this day too and she took blood and wanted to see me for my follow up appointment and everything. My legs are fine, though they are tender for some reason.

Turns out I have been walking like crazy and I shouldn't be doing as much as I have been. I was doing like 20 to 30 min walks 3x a day. From the folks on here, that is WAY TOO MUCH... So the next days since Wednesday I took it light. I had a stich in my side from the bottom right side and it has since gone away. I am convinced that this is my gallbladder tenderness. I am getting all my fluids in ok too. Now I have a pain on my LEFT side but I think that is from my body trying to reject the feeding tube that is still there.

Friday is when I started to feel my head throbbing and mild heart palultations. I am wondering why this hadn't happend sooner since I have been on clear liquids since Wednesday, September 17th. That is about 10 days almost! Hopefully on my appointment on the 29th I can get released to solid foods.


I am trying to think of anything else, I am certain there is more, but I can't think of it now. I will post more later (this is way too long!)


Damn I miss food. I saw a ritz cracker yesterday and fantasized about how it would feel in my mouth. I am seriously in need of help!

I must REALLY want this DS becuase my butt is ON FIRE!!!

LOL

Did I not understand fully that it would be like this? Holy mother of all things aloe! I need some relief! Despite my flaming tail, I am getting more and more excited! I am not sure when nerves are going to kick in... hopefully I will be doped up to care!

Thus far I have taken the liquid fleet sodium crap at 8:00a and then again at 12:00p. I have done 1 enema at 11:00a (who invented that torture?) and at 4:00p I have 4 antibiotics to take (on my empty "clear liquids" only diet) which I hope to keep down... and then 4 more at 5:00p and then another enema at 6:00p (doubt if I have the energy to do it but I REFUSE to let my mom do it!!!) another 4 anitbiotics at 11:00p and my last awesome enema at 12:00a.

If I make it through THAT, I can ROCK this DS!

Anybody got am block of ice I can sit on??

I am so grossing myself out! I can only imagine how you guys feel!