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I am still working on my recovery.  I have not much appetite but try to eat what I can.  I hate drinking and know how important it is and try so hard to get in as much as I can.  I am having trouble taking my vitamins.  I hate the taste and they make me gag.  I know this all sounds so negative.  I am one of the most positive people in the world and this experience has just taking me down.  It's awful.  I don't want to regret this.  I have lost 40 lbs in 3 weeks, that should be a great thing.  I just feel like it's so hard.  All I can do is lay around.  I try to walk every day but it is very hard.  I went to get a haircut yesterday and had to sleep the rest of the day when i got home it was so hard on me.  I am having back spasms and the pluericy still exists in my right lung.  The pain when I yawn, hiccup, belch, or sneeze is excrutiating.  I would love advise if there is anyone who can help me!!

I believe what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and after 12 days in the hospital I must be one tough cookie!  GB Surgery went well.  The emergency surgery I had for an intestinal blockage 3 days later didn't go so well.  The trauma to my body for such a major surery was tough to handle.  I finally was released after 12 days and left with pluerisy.  If you have every had this you know that it is the most painful experience in the world and that no pain meds help it.  It will have to run its course.  Every day seems a little better though.  Thank God for great family and friends who have helped me through this and taken such great care of me and my family.

I can't say I regret the surgery, the complication just happened.  The journey may have not started as I planned but I am planning on the same destination.  We'll call this the 'scenic route' - LOL.

I went in for WLS and came home with 30 lbs. of water weight from all the IVs.  I can't wait to get rid of all the swelling so that I can see where I really am after all this!  I am ready to be on the road to a thinner and healthier me!

I am doing well with the full liquids.  Love the Banana PB Protein Shake.  Cream Soups made with powdered milk to add protein are good too.  Amazed at how full I get with just 1/2 cup of these things!  

I hate how dry my mouth gets at night and wake up several times to take a drink.  I am not sure why it is so severe but I am literally parched!  It's a scary feeling at first.

Thursday is my first post-op visit - I'll let you know how it goes!

  I am so excited!  Thank you for the great words of support!

 My surgery is on Wednesday and I can't wait!!  I can't believe how much energy I have and how enthusiastic I am feeling!  I have been on my liquid diet of nutritional supplements for 5 days now and it's now so bad.  I expected to be starving but I am not.  I am just ready for this surgery and know this is part of the process.  I am so ready to start the journey to my new body!  

Tomorrow will be my last day of work for a month.  I am working so hard to get everything done!!

Thanks for all the nice messages and prayers.

G

Good Morning,

Today is my one week until WLS mark.  I can't beleive it!  Let me start with the beginning of my journey....

December, 2006 - I attended a seminar at Riverside Hospital and Fresh Start Bariatrics with my husband.  We listened to them talk about the lap band and RNY.  After listening to the surgeon and a success story we left.  We discussed the options and both agreed that the RNY was the perfect one for me.  I waiting until January 1 to contact the center as my insurance was changing then.  From that point on everything went as planned.  

I think I would have been approved earlier but had a major set-back in my life.  My father passed away unexpectedly and it took some time for me to start the healing process and get my head back in the program.

The FSB Program is wonderful.  I have had sessions with nutritionists and dieticians and had all the physical and mental evaluations and tests.  I feel very well informed and prepared.

I received my approval 6 weeks ago and within a couple weeks had the surgery date.  

Last week, I had my final appointment/pre-op and received my supplements for after the surgery and the meal replacement shakes for the week before with all the instructions.  Tomorrow I start an 800 calorie liquid diet to 'shrink' the liver so that the laparoscopic surgery will go well.

I am dreaming a lot about the surgery and not getting too much good sleep.  I wish I could do something about that as I am very tired!

A little about me - I have not been heavy my entire life.  I seemed to slowly gain weight after highschool and then gained much more after having children.  Food has always been around for every celebration and mileston and I have come to associate it with joy and success.  That is all going to change as I take this journey and reach my goal.  I am ready for a new me!

I have enjoyed reading all the stories here at OH and they are all so inspiring.  I hope that as I journal my journey I will return the favor and insprire someone too.

Blessings,
Gina