Marci M.

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i have Malabsorption and almost died. I gained back almost all of the weight but only eat about 800 calories a day. It turns out I am only absorbing carbs and sugar. My body can no longer convert protein into amino acids causing my body to starve.  Becareful all. This is not to be messed with.  

stalling for 3 weeks now, this is so frustrating

Well I have lost quite a bit of weight and lots of inches.  Feeling much healthier, still fat, but a bit sexier than I have in a while.  Fit into a size large pants at K-mart.  Bought a pair for 7.97 cause I am still not spending money on clothes that will only fit for a few weeks.  I feel like a slow loser, but that's okay.  Choa!

yeah, down 2lbs today.

Post Date: 2/16/10 5:51 pm


Yeah yeah... just let me vent.  I know they are normal,  I know the roumored ways to break them. 

But can i just say they SUCK! 

This thing is making me miss my goal and that pisses me off because I am working so hard. 

Yes, I have measured myself and yes i have lost inches.  But that gosh darn scale isn't telling me, and if the scale goddess doesn't say it, I don't care. 

Now I know you are thinking, Girl, step away from the scale.  But I don't want to.  As I am dragged away kicking and screaming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ever fell like this?

I am so happy I have a place to bitch on sometimes.

DEEP BREATH.....wow I feel better

10 lbs of this weight was lost prior to surgery
Poof, there goes another pound

        
I have to save this one so that when I am skinny I can look back to see what a nut I was.

I have been struggling to get my protein shakes in.  They leave me feeling nausea, bloated, and gassy.  I found one I like, but I wish I found it sooner.  I have been starting my day with this smoothie and it is great.

1/2 packet of Yo-plait Triple Berry Smoothie Mix  ( I found in frozen section at BJ's Wholesale club, 5.99 for 16 servings)
1 scoop of Jay Robb vanilla protein powder  ( I am sure any one you like will work great)
3/4 cup of water  ( use milk for added protein, but added calories too)

Blend in small blender a few seconds until mixed well, large one makes it to frothy for me. 

Makes about 2 cups, really thick at first and thins out as it warms.  It is yummy!

27 grams of protein and 180 calories

At my Dr.'s appointment on Tuesday I met with Dr. Aranow.  He informed me that I have lost over 25% of my excess body weight!  Wow.....  I am amazed.  How exciting to have a number like that.  He said that when you look at it that way I will probably loose all of my weight in 6mo. instead of the year he originally predicted. 

I then bombarded him with questions which he answer kindly but was obviously annoyed with in the end. 

1)  I asked  Did you do my surgery because I know that your partner closed me up?  He assured me he did and said that my incision was larger than he expected because of the size of my liver. 

2) I then asked why that would be since I followed the diet plan for preop to a tee.  He said that you never really know but not to worry because now it will shrink. 

3) I asked about the types of b12, since a post on here made me concerned about the type I was taking.  He read the bottle and said it was the right type. 

4) I asked yet again about the flinstone vitamins being okay?  He responded of course they are, when these people that are saying other wise do over 1000 surgeries then they can have an opinion.

5) I asked him about the gallbladder medication, because it makes me sick to my stomach? He said that if I can't take it I can't.. Hopefully I am not someone that will get gallstone or if I do they will not be large enough to cause a problem. He went on to say that about 30% of patients get gallstones from loosing weight so quickly. The medication needs to be taken twice a day to have any results.

6) I asked about blood work?    Will have my next full workup in about 2 months.

I asked a few more but I can n ot remember them all right now.  All in all it was a great appointment!

The operation part started an hour latter than Dr. Aranow told me it would 8:30am instead of 7:30.  No biggy.  I got a bit concerned when everyone was asking if anyone had seen Dr. Araow at about 8:25.  He ran in all flustered at 8:45, at which time I advised he of some deep cleansing breaths, before taking a scalpel to my gut!  When we got in to the O.R. he seemed much more at ease like he was in his element.  Dr. Roblaise?? The new Dr. performing surgery at the office was not present when I fell asleep. 

Woke up in recovery then to room all a bit groggy.  The first round of nurses were great.  Very attentive... The second crew was not so attentive, personal, or nice.  They discouraged me from walking, were late on pain meds, and rubbed me the wrong way.  The third crew came on and were top notch.  A wonderful manager came into the room and asked how things were going.  I mentioned that the second crew wasn't as on as the other two.  She asked if it was the nurse or the P?? I responded with I wasn't sure but it seemed like both. I asked her not to say anything until I was out so that I did not have any resistance from my comments.  She agreed.  I also asked if they would be on the next day and was happily told they would not. 

Dr. Aranow did not come in on the day of surgery.  Day two he did not come in either.  I did see him in the hall briefly while I was doing my laps.  I had been asking the nurses for him constantly with no response. 

I had also not slept more than 15 minutes since recovery.

The next four shifts of nurses were fabulous

 The day I was supposed to be released, he showed up.  I asked him where the hell's he's been, twice, with no reply.  He and the nurse talked about how the narcotics were not really getting rid of the pain, just making me sleepy and loopy.  He did not want to give me the other med because it had Motrin.... cause of bleeding risks.  Nurse and he decided it may work better if they gave me a combination of two narcotics.  They signed the release papers and just wanted to give me a dose in the hospital before sending me home to see how I would respond.  Well, they threw me for a loop and a half.  I crawled into bed and fell asleep, with the nurse telling me I could not be in bed because of Dr orders, and I responding to have him come up and try to get me out of bed. 

As I was coming off of this incredible high, the nurses changed and low and behold the love gal who I dealt with my first night was back.  She was terrible!  They were short staffed and another helper P?? came down from a different floor to assist.  Her name was Jen and was very kind. 

Ide,  the nurse, disappeared for an hour and a half, and no one knew where she was.  This is while I need pain meds.  I asked her to call Dr A.  and an hour later she said that she still had not gotten to it.  She sat in the corner of the more private nurses station talking on her cell phone most of the night.  I asked her for ice, she forgot.  I asked her for a blanket, she forgot.  I needed something in the bathroom, she got me the wrong thing  and then forgot to bring back to the right thing.  While she was MIA, I was over an hour due for pain meds.  When she got back I did receive my meds quickly, probably because  I followed her to the med closet and waited for them.  When my next dose was due, I called for them, and said she would get to me as soon as she could she had a new patient arriving soon and had to get the paper work done.  (maybe she should have gotten off her phone earlier then) She ended sending in another nurse to administer my meds because she was still busy.  At which point I was breaking down, crying from the pain, hyperventilating, (which I have never done before) and barely able  to talk.  I asked the nurse if she could be my new nurse because I did not want the other one in charge of my care any longer.  I told her everything that had been done wrong while under the other nurses care.  

Up until this point my recovery had been superb.  I was walking, in pain but it was manageable, and looked really good according to the other nurses and comparison with other patients that had surgery the same day as me.

The damn nurse Ide, then had the balls to come into my room and question me about why I was so upset with her.  She defended her absences and forgetfulness blaming the helper Jen.  She was interrogating me!  It was ridiculous.  I told her that I was not happy with her care and that she needed to leave my room. She would not and continued on defending her position and recreating things to make her come out in a better light.  It was gross.

I talked to the manager again the next am, and I felt that things would be handled so that another patinent would not be cared for in this way again.  The other nurse that I complained to Also reported to her what I had said.

As I was being released the next morning Dr Roblaise came it to check me out.  Looked at my incision stated that he closed me up, and what a nice job it was doing healing, because Dr Aranow had to run out to another patient.  GRRRR... 

I chose Dr. Aranow for many reasons one of which was because he was not at a teaching Hospital and because of this only his experienced hands would be working on me. 

So that is the long and the short of it.  I am healing well, feeling better every day, but still a bit pissed about everything.

I went to Middlesex Hospital this afternoon for a tour of the new bariatric wing.  It was nice.  The colors were warm and soothing.  The beds were hospital beds and the chairs that they claim are very comfortable are a bit to tall for my short legs.  The bath is in the room and huge.  Nice large walk in shower!  The nurses that ran the program were fabulous.  They made everyone feel very comfortable & answered all of our questions, even the ones that seemed a bit silly.  It was very informative!