azorbas11

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I am back at work and I uploaded some pictures.  That was actually fun because I had not really seen the difference in me until then....24 pounds showed a lot more than I thought.

Now I am trying to get on a good schedule and still eat my "mushy" foods.

Last night I went to the supermarket.....let's just say that was not an easy experience.  I walked around looking for the items I knew I could have - cold cuts, chicken, pork, turkey, mashed potatoes.....and next thing I knew I was just wandering with very little energy looking at things I couldn't have.  I don't necessarily miss anything but it is just so weird to walk through the supermarket and not be able to get juice or fruit or crackers or bread.....

I think this entire situation has been more troubling than I expected.  I know everyone is different and we all bounce back in different ways.  I feel like I am just kind of going through the motions at this point.  I am hoping everyday gets a little better.
I just need to keep a lighter mind and not fall into any black hole...

So I haven't updated yet since the surgery but I haven't been able to get my words together until now.  It has been rather busy since I last updated in September.

I was finally given a surgery date for December in October.  I had about 6 weeks to prepare this time around.  I was able to get short-term disability for work to cover my three weeks off.  I also had enough time to spread duties throughout my team so hopefully they were all able to keep their heads above water while I was out.  It was also my 30th birthday in November and I was able to celebrate with my friends and family. 

The pre-op diet was really hard.  I still had a hard time with the protein drinks but I kept trying them and dropped myself of soda.  I am not sure how much weight I lost because when I went in for surgery I didn't realize they wouldn't weigh me before the actual surgery.

Surgery went pretty well but I had a few small pitfalls.  When they first were waking me from the anesthesia, I was not very responsive so they had to put me back under to give me more medicine to wake me up.  The next day I should have had my upper GI test but I had no voice.  They needed to make sure that nothing in my throat was damaged so an ENT specialist was called in to do some tests.  Luckily, nothing was found so I was able have my upper GI the following day.  I was finally given water Thursday afternoon and protein drinks Friday and sent home to my parents.

I can't tell you how thankful I am that I went to my parents house.  I really don't know what I would have done had I been home alone.  The recovery has been very long and feels very slow.  I am finally eating small portions of diced proteins and smooth foods.  I was very tired and weak up until last week.  I am still not doing great but definitely better than I was a week ago. 

I know this is not going to be an easy road but I don't know what I was expecting.  My advice to others is that surgery is never what you expect.

If my parents scale is correct, I have lost about 24 pounds already.  That leaves less than 50 to a goal weight.  I return to the surgeon and the nutritionist on the 5th.  I was scheduled to return to work on the 30th but I may wait until Friday.  My strength has not been the highest yet and I am not sure what a day at work will do to me....

So I had my breath test for H Pylori and Monday and it came back negative!!

Now I am just waiting to hear from Dr. Vernon's assistant about a new surgery date.

So I am supposed to have my breath test on Monday to make sure the antibiotics worked and the H Pylori is gone. 

Truthfully I am so busy at work right now that if I had the surgery in August, I would have been up shit's creek without a paddle right now.

I am trying to get some more exercise in and at least maintain if not lose some more weight in the meantime.

I didn't want to have to wait so long for the surgery.  It's not that I am impatient, I just know myself.  I can talk myself in or out of having this surgery in a heartbeat and if I have too much time to think (which seems to be the case right now) I will give myself all the doubt in the world about going through with everything.

Here's hoping Monday comes back clean because honestly, I don't know what I will do if the H Pylori is still there.

So I was all set to be out of work and have my surgery on August 19th.....well that isn't going to happen now.

My blood tests came back positive for H Pylori.  I now have to take mega antibiotics and antacids for the next two weeks, wait five weeks to have another test, and then if the results come back clean I can reschedule my surgery.

I am annoyed, angry, frustrated, and sad all at the same time.

The only thing getting me through this is things happen for reason.  I may not know why now....but someday the reason will come to me.

I was driving to work this morning thinking to myself "You know?  Before I started down this mess of tests and quite a rocky journey, I was a fairly healthy person. " Was I strong and in the best shape and/or health?  No but I certainly wasn't sleeping with a mask on my face and taking 3000 mg of antibiotics a day.....

So - I have finally made my way through almost the entire preop process.  This began back in March, when the idea of the weight loss surgery was brought up to me.  I immediately emailed my orthopedic surgeon and told him my thoughts on looking into the surgery and asking him if he would recommend the procedure.  He replied excited for me and advised this would be a excellent move for my hip dysplasia as well as my own personal well being.

I went to an information session in late April/early May.  After the session, I called and made an appointment for June 2 with the surgeon.  Between that appointment and the information session, I made sure to meet with my PCP and my orthopedic surgeon so I would have recommendation letters either before the appointment in June or shortly thereafter.

After the June 2nd appointment came the madness of appointments.  I had a sleep study that week, a psych appointment and right quadrant ultrasound on the 16th, and the nutrition consult and upper GI test on July 2.  Mind you, I am not truly a fan of going to doctor's appointments and/or missing work because of said appointments, so needless to say I was kind of running around like a mad woman.

Next came the sleep study results - you have sleep apnea (actually hypopnea, which seems to be more of a problem with your airway) welcome into your life the CPAP machine.  OK I am not going to lie.  I wanted no part of sleeping with a mask on my face but I must say it has helped a lot with this cough I have and I feel better breathing so there must be some truth to it.

And now I am in the preoperative protein shake diet, which is not going all that well.  I am having trouble with the shakes, however I should have my Unjury protein powders tomorrow and hopefully this will be the answer to my prayers.