Autumn2016
1 month update
Dec 03, 2016
Surgery update 1 month.
I just want to say every surgeon and every patient is different, follow your surgeon’s protocols. This is my story.
So my prep started on Monday 24th (I went to work)I had light soft foods, yogurt n fruit for breakfast, 2 boiled eggs for lunch, and salmon and green beans for dinner, h20 all day. At 10pm I had to put a nausea patch behind my ear, you wear gloves to put it on and wash your hands really well after.
Tuesday the 25th (I went to work) I had yogurt n fruit for breakfast and broth for lunch, broth for dinner, h20 all day. Nothing after midnight.
After work I packed my bag (I took the nurses advice in the pre op class when she said pack light the 2 days go quick. Take your favorite slippers n robe, I used the 2 gowns front back, didn't take a robe, and a loose fitting knit dress to go home. I had what they said from online pillow you will need to put on tummy hold to cough and in between you and seat belt, chapstick and gas x strips, well the nurse said no to the gas x strips anyway so I didn’t use them...I didn’t really need them.)
and I cleaned up, washed clothes. I wanted nothing to do when I got back, and to leave my husband with a clean house so he could just keep it up, yall know what I mean!
So I had my surgery on 10/26/2016 on my Angel Mom's birthday. It was weird not being with my sisters because we always celebrate her with a small gift to each other and dinner. But I got the blessing of the day! Next year I hope to fly home and see my sisters. (Last year, I moved to west coast…my family is in the cold east coast.) The morning of surgery I had a sip of water and the pills that the surgeon said I could take. I brushed my teeth, showered, took a pic and my husband and I headed out to the hospital.
I checked in, put on a gown, had to take pregnancy test (no no) got an IV put in they pushed two bags of saline so I went to the bathroom 3x’s, because my surgeon doesn’t do catheters. (YEAH)
My hospital stay went pretty quick after surgery, let’s see Wednesday when I woke up from surgery I was in slight pain, and that was my biggest fear to wake up to great pain and it was just slight (YEAH). After I got to my room, I went to the bathroom and walk one lap around the nurses station had a few sips of h20 and then it was bed time. At 6am Thursday morning the nurse came in and said it’s time to get moving for the day, so I washed up and took off the band aids, there is a pic. Don’t mind my stretch mark map, I had two kids; they needed to know how to get here!! So the hospital has you stay up in the recliner chair all day til bedtime at 10pm wearing the Sequential Compression Device to prevent blood clots and using the Incentive Spirometer hourly to expand the lungs. I was on broth, jello, h20, decaf black tea or decaf black coffee. I can get in 48oz of h20 and my Dr is happy with that at this time and I should just work up to the 64oz. This day my pain was about 5 or 6 of 10 and I could have 2 Percocet every 4 hours but I only needed 1 every 4 hours. Once an hour you need to walk 2 laps around nurse’s station.
Discharged day Friday October 28th mid-day…but it was same as yesterday, also when you walk it allows the gas to pass I was not too bloated, tummy is sore, my throat hurts a little from when the tube was down my throat, but I’m feeling ok. (YEAH). I used pain pills Saturday and Sunday and then I was done. The incision that was used to insert the camera in is a little sorer than the others, but again tolerable. My supportive husband was off work for the first week with me making sure I was ok, I oh so appreciate him! He’s all over everything, Did you get your h20 in? Did you take your vitamins? Did you walk? Coach Young is all over me.lol
Post Op education class was on Tuesday, Nov 1st there were 10 of us in this class and we all had surgery in the last week, we reviewed important information and we had our first monitored meal. You could pick from a variety of protein, a boiled egg, tofu, cottage cheese and there was fruit blackberries and blueberries. So we follow the 30-20-30 rule and 3 to 1, so no h20 30 min prior to eating, you eat for 20 min max and you chew the dime size amount of food thoroughly and rest/ and or put the fork down between bites; once you are done you can have h20 after 30 min. Now the 3 to 1 is 3 bites protein to 1 bite fruit or vegetable. I had 1 bite boiled egg, 1 bite cottage cheese, 1 bite boiled egg and 2 blueberries and I was done. So for my 1st week I pretty much had 4 bites at breakfast lunch and dinner. The 2nd and 3rd week went to 8 bites so I did 3 protein and then vegetable (1 long green bean) and then 3 bites and a fruit (2 blueberries or 2 raspberries or 2 blackberries)
At this point my tummy (I don’t like pouch, I’m not a kangaroo!) is the size of an egg and will get to the size of an orange. Again this is my protocol and from now until December 27th my next appointment. So I can have breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner. The snack can only be ½ protein shake. I use premier protein since its 30 grams of protein. My snacks will change once I hit 2mos out. I usually get fancy and have ½ chocolate at the 1st snack and ½ vanilla at the next snack. Lol. My breakfast proteins can be 1 of the following:
I have 1 scrambled egg with a sprinkle of fat free mozzarella cheese or
I have a half container of the Dannon 80 cal vanilla greek yogurt with 3 blackberries in it or
a half an egg and half a turkey circle patty sausage or
½ protein shake but I usually don’t do this because it’s what I have for the snack. But if you need to get out the door and you want to keep on schedule this is what you do.
Lunch and Dinner
I usually choose chicken, salmon, firm tofu with teriyaki sauce, ground turkey with red sauce, my vegetable of choice is fresh long green beans, fruit is blue berries, blackberries, raspberries, pineapple, cantaloupe, melon or kiwi. That’s all Ive tried so far and I make sure I only try new things on a Saturday since going back to work I don’t want to be sick at work.
Speaking of schedules, I plotted mine out so I wouldn’t get frustrated with the new way of life, and some may have started prior to surgery but I didn’t, so her is my day:
7am breakfast
7:15 Multi vitamin/pills (2 hb pressure pills, biotin, allergy med, pill to prevent gall stones will take for 6 mos , and acid reflux pill will take for 3 mos)
9:30am calcium chew
10:15 snack
11:45 calcium chew
1pm Lunch
2pm calcium chew
4pm snack
6:15 workout walk 1-2 miles (I may do this at 5:45am…) I work 8:30a-5p
7pm Dinner
8:30pm Multivitamin/pills. (biotin, and pill to prevent gall stones)
H20 ALL DAY (not before, during or after eating of course, remember 30-20-30 rule!)
Appointment with Surgeon November 10, 2016 I seen the Surgeon today and he said I was healing nicely, (since surgery I could only wash and pat dry) I can now put lotion on my tummy (YEAH!).… remember on 10/26 surgery date I said I took the meds my Surgeon told me to take, well that consisted of my high blood pressure meds not my 2 diabetic meds, so from 10/25 until today I have not taken any diabetic meds and the Dr confirmed I’m no longer a diabetic!!!! Praise God. My blood pressure meds have been decreased from 3 to 2 pills and one of those have been cut in half, so exciting.
1month Post Op November 16, 2016 yes it’s a little early by 10days but I had to take this one because I have a 3 day business trip, during the next class. It was a group class and the nurse did body compositions and answered any questions and reviewed important information, very informative. I’ve been ok, I had 2 boughts of constipation and she suggested Smooth Move Tea that is sold at Walgreens. I bought some that night, but never opened it due to not having the issue again. I’m glad I have it though. So let’s back up and talk about what happened the first constipation bought. A little bit of my background, I went to LPN school and I’m now the Manager of Health Care Clinicians, so I know how to disimpact, but never have I done it to myself. I was getting weak and I thought should I call my husband and tell him and ask him to do it but then we would have to get a divorce or I’d have to kill him.lol! Then I thought I should call the nurse who I’m really cool with, but that’s taking our friendship to the 10th level. So, I locked the door just in case I passed out, gloved up and helped myself. I was so weak and tired after that I laid down for about half hour! I told my husband and text the nurse about my dilemma. He said, no divorce, but I’m glad it worked out. The nurse said no, I would have come over and call me anytime. J
Off work time. The Dr gives 3 weeks for RNY surgery
I was off Oct 26 until Nov 21st I went back into the office. I was able to work from home starting Friday October 11th and then from home Mon-Fri 14-18th. I only had 10 days of PTO, and I’m grateful my boss let me work from home, because the bills don’t take a break!!
This 1st week back, yes I’m tired I have a 50min commute so my day is 10hours…yikes! I made it thru, and this weekend I’m just resting. At least the week I went back to 4 days, had Thanksgiving off only. The holiday was fine, I had turkey and greens and a half teaspoon of cranberry sauce. Of course I wanted a roll and a piece of pie, but I didn’t do it!!
Healing
I have 6 incisions like half inch in size and they healed, they are all closed and I’m using co-co butter on them, I also use scar gel and Vaseline firming lotion. I’m trying to keep my skin tight. I used the firming lotion prior to and after 2 weeks you can feel the difference. I have one incision that is really sore due to the Dr had to do a hernia repair and the incision is up high until its done hurting I have to wear a soft bra or non-underwire and I had a few sport bras because the underwire bra it’s where the underwire would hit. Each week gets better and better but the tummy is sore but just slightly, like after a hard workout, it’s tolerable.
Weight loss
10/26 290 surgery day Day of surgery 18w black pants and 2x blue n white top.
10/28 293 leaving the hospital h20 weight
11/02 278 week 1
11/09 274 week 2
11/16 269 week 3
11/23 264 week 4
11/26 263.. I month post op -27lbs!! I’m in my 16w pants! (I have clothes from 14w-18w)
I have that “work out” body some loose 30lbs and go down a few dress sizes, I have to loose this much for 1 size. I’m grateful for such progress. Praise God. It’s funny because I cut my hair short and because I can wear clothes that fit since I have the sizes, everyone is like you look great, that haircut is wonderful. ***Don’t wear baggy clothes, I don’t care if it’s the same 5 outfits, all stores have sales, take a sewing course get creative… don’t look sloppy, it takes away from weight loss, just my opinion. I’m doing pretty good and I do use the app Baritastic, Weight tracker, and I have a Fitbit courtesy of my daughter from last Mother’s Day! I do want to say with me, the first 2 weeks any bottled h20 was ok, then for a week I could only drink h20 with lemon slices in it, an now this week I can only drink alkaline h20. I will try using my h20 bottle with the diffuser and putting fruit in it, also the nurse said to use natural enhanced drops; I’ll look into this. My new life!
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Happy Thanksgiving! -26 |
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I don't know how to turn pics!
My Journey
Oct 12, 2016
My Journey begins…I will figure out how to work this as I go. I joined a few months ago, reading and going thru my appointments, but now it's time to start writing. These posts / blogs are for my growth and reflection all + no – here!
I have expressed my surgical need to first and foremost myself, after much prayer, thought and contemplation and then to my husband, who is the love of my life and to my children for which I want to continue to see their lives thrive and grow and to continue to be here for all “Honey’s babies”. I have also held confidence to my sisters, Aunt, and a few friends. I prayed before I spoke to anyone, because their views weren’t what I needed, I had made the decision with my husband and then my PCP. I’m expressing myself as a courtesy.
Proverbs 3:5-6. I will trust in the Lord with all my heart, and lean not to my understanding; in all my ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct my path. I thank you Lord for your continued guidance in my life. Amen.
Autumn 2016 and Change is my next exit. The life changing surgery will be on my Mom/Guardian Angel’s Birthday 10/26. 
I was average size growing up, just tall. At 15, I was 5”10 and wore a size 10 shoe (still that height today) and a size 8/10 not sure of my weight, I really didn’t keep track but if I had to guess…165. I am gravida 2 para 2, my first child at 16 and then at 21. I gained 40lbs both times; after the first I was a size 10/12 weighed 195 and also gained a shoe size so at size11. 5 years later another baby and got up to 240 then I was 18/20 size 12 shoe. I couldn’t have any more kids for the mere fact of gaining a shoe size. My Mom passed away when I was 19 from colon cancer and she was in a battle for 6 years. I have been getting regular 3 year colonoscopies since 19 years old. I was married at 19 and we had 1 child before marriage and 1 after and I then lost some weight down to 215 and size 14/16. My weight has fluctuated and I’ve been between sizes 14 to 18. Things that I know, as long as I live, I will never be with him again and I’m not happy over a size 14, I manage, feel good, look good.. but not really happy, that’s real talk and something I always want to remember and I know I will. (That right there was for me)
I was divorced at 25 and a single MoM until 35 when my King Anthony came into my life, with his 2 children and now we have a beautifully blended family. When I got married I weighed 215-220 yes I fluctuate 5lbs water weight on any given day! I have what I call a “workout body”, if I don’t do a minimum 2 or 3 workouts a week, I won’t stay at the weight I currently hold, and a hamburger away from disaster. Major life changes and emotions, not, then, knowing what a calorie meant, loving sweets and not regularly exercising were just a few factors in weight gains and losses. I’ll tell you what when the 18’s got tight it was time to do a little more and eat a little less J I eat average breakfast and lunch meals, dinner can be at times ruff if pasta or bread is involved I can have 2 bowls of spaghetti, I don’t binge eat or anything but I do over eat at dinner and I can easily have 2 sweets after, hence weight problem. So I have and can watch portion sizes but those sweets, so I feel this is a great decision for me and I need this pouch to stay the same size and not let me eat sweets. I do not plan to even attempt to bring them in my life after surgery. The sugar high is done. I haven’t had Starbuck Frappuccino since April over it. The past 6 mos. I have eased sugar out and healthy alternatives in. I freeze flavored yogurt and it’s my ice cream. I take one square of graham cracker and grind it up and sprinkle some on greek yogurt so it can have texture, that I can handle. I drink premier shakes and I would have animal crackers as a snack, or trail mix. I still can’t eat cottage cheese but that’s ok, there are other things and I’d rather it be something I like than something I can’t eat and get discouraged. This past 6 mos. has been a journey, and so will the next 6 mos. But I look forward to it.
So in Jan 2005 dx high blood pressure(taking 2 pills) and borderline diabetic (weight control), 2008 dx degenerative back disease (ibuprofen/injections as needed), acid reflux (1 pill) and eczema (rx shampoo and biotin), 2016 diabetic (2 pills) This was very scary, I had a series of seizures and went to the hospital via ambulance and that’s how I found out I was a diabetic and while admitted I had to have insulin shots but when I was released I was given pills. So April 2016 at that Dr’s appointment my PCP advised I have a consult with Dr. Swain, I called and made and appointment for 1st week of May. Dr Swain reviewed with my husband and I all of the surgeries and explained why RNY gastric bypass was best for me. I also saw the Nutritionist, and Psychologist. So my April appointment counted as #1 (my insurance Cigna required 6mos monitoring) May-Sept got me to 6 total appointments. I was required to loose 10 lbs. and increase my protein.
My submission of paperwork and an answer from the Insurance Company took about 1 week (they said up to 3 weeks) and the MA called and scheduled all of my appointments. Pre-op for Testing (chest x ray, ekg, and blood work) , Pre-op Education Class and to Pre-op Surgeon visit. So I have 3 appointments before the 26th surgery date. Post Op Education Class Nov 1st, Post-op Surgeon visit Nov 10th, One Month Education class Nov 16th, (I know 26th is like 30 days but I have a business trip already planned for a few days at that time.) I requested 3 weeks off work (more like3.5) and I plan to return on Nov 21st, Lord willing. My husband applied for FMLA so he can help care for me J. We moved across the country, I was and East Coast girl now I’m a West Coast girl and though my sisters are here they are both working and that 1st week or so I need to be babied (no prior surgeries, but 2 babies of pain, you know.) I was in a car accident and not as much work n out, because as you know I have that “workout body” had pain issues for 6-9 mos. And then a year later I was the passenger in 2 car accidents within 6 mos., aggravating the degenerative back disease yet again. It has been 3 years and I have that pain under control with just Tylenol as needed. I haven’t had an injection in over 3 years. Praise God.
So according to the chart 165-173 is normal weight. My Surgeons goal is 170. My goal is 167. My first thought was 190 but why be in the overweight category, I’m doing this for health and to be rid of the 2 major co morbidities (high blood pressure and diabetes) so I’m all the way in and going for 167. Why not me, why not you! I hope you got to know me a little and I plan to update during my journey. One day at a time, wake up and start over to be better! God bless us all!
I will try to get a ticker and post weights at the end of each month.
SD planned for 10/26/16
SW TBD
M1-
I also want to be sure to include:
Happy Moments
Sad Moments
OMG or NSV Moments
Goal
Maintenance
Meal Plan
Exercise
Stalls and what was done to overcome
As you can see I’m excited and I plan to document it all.
Something I remember…years ago I was talking to a woman for about 10 minutes and I said, I know you know me from our conversation, but I’m sorry I don’t know your name? It was Gaye, she had lost so much weight I honestly didn’t know who she was. That was real and that was fabulous! I need to ask her if she remembers that, but she probably got it from everyone, so our encounter would be missed, but I remember it!
